Rytis Mykolas Račkauskas

Rytis Mykolas Račkauskas (; born 25 September 1959) is a Lithuanian politician and the former Mayor of Panevėžys, a position he held from 2015 until 2024, when he was removed from office following allegations of abuse in organizing public procurement.

Education He graduated from Panevėžys Juozas Balčikonis Secondary School in 1977 and from the Vilnius Engineering Construction Institute in 1982, where he obtained a degree in architecture.

Political career He was a member of the Homeland Union (TS-LKD) from 1993 to 1996 and one of the founders of the party. He served as a member of the Panevėžys City Council from 1990 to 1997 and again from 2015 to 2023. He was the Mayor of Panevėžys from 2015 to 2024.

Controversies In 2024, Račkauskas was removed from office after being involved in corruption-related issues. He was accused of accepting a bribe in exchange for financial support from the city to a local basketball club. This led to his suspension and the initiation of an investigation into his actions. Račkauskas was also accused of abuse in organizing public procurement processes while serving as mayor, which was one of the reasons behind his removal from office. These allegations further damaged his reputation and led to questions about his leadership during his term.