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“After learning about the unfinished higher education, V. Leškevičius’s request to leave the ministry was satisfied,” Rasa Jakilaitienė, spokesman for the Foreign Minister, told BNS.
He stressed that the competence and loyalty of V. Leškevičius did not raise doubts, but that he could not remain in the ministry due to the requirements of the law.
“There was no reason to doubt the loyalty and competence of V. Leškevičius during the 24 years of his work. We appreciate his contribution. But the law is the law. And when the circumstances became clear, no exceptions were made,” said R Jakilaitienė.
He declined to comment on how the information on higher education was obtained.
According to BNS, the information that the diplomat has not defended his final thesis came to light during an inspection when V. Leškevičius ran for the post of deputy minister of National Defense this year.
The Ministry of National Defense confirmed that V. Leškevičius was among the vice ministerial candidates, but did not provide further details.
“I can only confirm that his candidacy was considered and the interviews were held, but in the end he rejected the offer,” Vita Ramanauskaitė, advisor to the minister, told BNS.
From 2015 to February this year, V. Leškevičius headed the Lithuanian Embassy to NATO, and in 2013-2014 he was Deputy Foreign Minister.
The comment from BNS V. Leškevičius has not yet been received.
It is not allowed to publish, quote or reproduce the information of the BNS news agency in the media and on websites without the written consent of the UAB “BNS”.
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