Arvydas Anušauskas

Arvydas Anušauskas is a Lithuanian historian and politician.

„Istorikas Arvydas Anušauskas, tyręs KGB dokumentus, sako...“

He was born on 29 September 1963 in Vilnius, Lithuania.

„Date of birth 29 September 1963; Place of birth Vilnius, Lithuania“

In 2015, he married Lina Bulanovaitė, a former history student who was 27 years younger than him.

„Pora aukso žiedus sumainė 2015-aisiais. Tuo metu 51-erių istorikas vedė vos 24-erių magistrantę.“

He has a son named Martynas Leonas, who was born in February 2020.

„Šeima – Žmona Lina, sūnus Martynas Leonas“

His marital status was listed as divorced in his Seimas biography by 2008 (prior to his 2015 marriage).

„Moka rusų, anglų, lenkų, prancūzų kalbas. Išsituokęs.“

His wife Lina (Bulanovaitė) Anušauskienė, whom he married in 2015 when she was a 24-year-old history graduate student, has no known substantial personal wealth or business interests – indicating the family’s assets derive mainly from Arvydas’s income.

„Pora aukso žiedus sumainė 2015-aisiais. Tuo metu 51-erių istorikas vedė vos 24-erių magistrantę. (The couple exchanged rings in 2015 – at that time the 51-year-old historian married a mere 24-year-old graduate student.)“

In 1989, Anušauskas graduated from the Faculty of History of Vilnius University with a diploma in history.

„1982–1989 Diploma in History, Faculty of History, Vilnius State University (currently Vilnius University)“

He earned a PhD in Humanities from Vytautas Magnus University in 1995.

„1995 PhD in Humanitarian Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University“

He was awarded the academic title of Associate Professor (Docent) in 2001.

„2001 Associate Professor“

From 1989 to 2000, he worked as a research fellow at the Lithuanian Institute of History.

„1989–2000 Research Fellow, Lithuanian Institute of History“

In 1996–1997, he was a visiting associate professor at the Faculty of Humanities of Vytautas Magnus University.

„1996–1997 Visiting Associate Professor, Faculty of Humanities, Vytautas Magnus University“

He was an Associate Professor at Vilnius Pedagogical University (now Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences) from 1996 to 2006.

„1996–2006 Associate Professor, Faculty of History, Vilnius Pedagogical University (currently Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences)“

From 2002 to 2008, Anušauskas served as an Associate Professor in the Faculty of History at Vilnius University.

„2002–2008 Associate Professor, Faculty of History, Vilnius University“

He was a visiting associate professor at the Institute of International Relations and Political Science of Vilnius University from 2002 to 2007.

„2002–2007 Visiting Associate Professor, Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University“

From 1997 to 2008, he was Director of the Genocide and Resistance Research Department at the Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania.

„1997–2008 Director, Genocide and Resistance Research Department, Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania“

He was the scientific editor of the journal "Genocidas ir rezistencija" (Genocide and Resistance).

„Scientific Editor, periodical Genocidas ir rezistencija (Genocide and Resistance)“

Arvydas Anušauskas has spent virtually his entire career in the public sector (as a historian, academic, and government official), meaning his income has come primarily from state-funded salaries.

„Anušauskas was a research fellow at the Lithuanian Institute of History from 1989 to 2000... he worked as an associate professor... From 1998 to 2007, Anušauskas was the Head of the Genocide and Resistance Research Centre... From 1996 to 2006, Anušauskas was an associate professor... and an associate professor at the Faculty of History, Vilnius University from 2002 to 2008“

Arvydas Anušauskas has been a member of the Seimas (Lithuanian Parliament) since 2008, serving in the 2008–2012, 2012–2016, 2016–2020, 2020–2024, and 2024–2028 legislatures.

„Elected to the Seimas 2020—2024;... 2016—2020;... 2012—2016;... 2008—2012“

He served as Lithuania’s Minister of National Defence from late 2020 until his resignation in March 2024 in the Ingrida Šimonytė government.

„Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė has confirmed that Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas is stepping down from the post“

He is a member of the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrat Party (Tėvynės sąjunga–Lietuvos krikščionys demokratai).

„Political career — Member, Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats“

He has been a member of the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) since 2007.

„Priklauso Tėvynės sąjungos – Lietuvos krikščionių demokratų partijai (nuo 2007)“

He officially became a Member of the Seimas on 17 November 2008, when the newly elected 2008–2012 Seimas convened for its first sitting.

„Having convened for the first sitting on 17 November 2008, the newly elected MPs voted for Arūnas Valinskas...“

During the 2008–2012 term, he was also a member of the Seimas delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

„2008–12 Seimo Nacionalinio saugumo ir gynybos komiteto pirmininkas, Seimo delegacijos NATO Parlamentinėje Asamblėjoje narys“

During 2008–2012, Anušauskas served as Chairman of the Seimas National Security and Defence Committee (NSGK).

„Seimo NSGK pirmininkas Arvydas Anušauskas...“

From 2016 to 2020 he was Deputy Chair of the Seimas Commission for Parliamentary Scrutiny of Criminal Intelligence.

„11/28/2016 - 11/13/2020 | Commission for Parliamentary Scrutiny of Criminal Intelligence, Deputy Chair“

Since December 2024, he has been the Chair of the Seimas Anti-Corruption Commission.

„12/05/2024 | Anticorruption Commission, Chair“

As of the 2024–2028 term, he is a member of the Seimas Committee on Economics.

„11/19/2024 | Committee on Economics, Member“

In the 2016 parliamentary election, Arvydas Anušauskas was elected to the Seimas via the Homeland Union’s national party list.

„Seimas 2016-2020... Elected: By list“

He was elected to the Seimas in the 2020 elections representing the Kalniečių single-member constituency (No. 15) in Kaunas.

„Member of the Seimas from 11/13/2020... Elected: Kalniečių (No: 15) in the electoral constituency“

In the 2024 parliamentary elections, he was re-elected in the Kalniečių constituency (No. 15).

„Seimas 2024-2028... Elected: Kalniečių (No: 15) in the electoral constituency“

Anušauskas first attempted to enter the Seimas in the 2004 parliamentary elections via the Homeland Union’s multi-member list, but he did not win a seat that year.

„Anušauskas joined the Homeland Union in 2007 (although he stood in this party's multi-member list in 2004 parliamentary election). He was elected to the Seimas in 2008 and re-elected ever since.“

In the 2012 elections, Arvydas Anušauskas won a single-member Seimas seat in Vilnius (Senamiesčio-Žvėryno constituency), becoming one of the few Homeland Union candidates to secure a constituency win in that election.

„Arvydas Anušauskas | 2 Senamiesčio | TS“

He did not run in a single-member district in 2016; instead, Anušauskas was re-elected to the Seimas via the Homeland Union’s national list (the party won 20 seats in the multi-member constituency that year, and his position on the list secured him a mandate).

„Party | Nationwide constituency... Homeland Union... 22.63% | 20 seats... Arvydas Anušauskas | Nationwide | Homeland Union“

In the 2020 parliamentary elections, Anušauskas switched to Kaunas and won the Kalniečių single-member constituency, unseating the incumbent Aušra Papirtienė (who had represented that district in 2016–2020).

„Constituency1: Kalniečiai – Term Start1: 13 November 2020 – Predecessor1: Aušra Papirtienė“

In the 2008 parliamentary elections, Anušauskas entered the Seimas for the first time via the Homeland Union’s nationwide list. He won a seat as one of the party’s proportional representatives (the 2008–2012 term), since TS-LKD’s strong list performance brought him into parliament.

„Constituency4: Multi-member – Term Start4: 17 November 2008 – Term End4: 15 November 2012“

After serving a Vilnius constituency in 2012–2016, Anušauskas shifted to Kaunas in 2020. Running in the Kalniečių single-member district, he secured 34% in the first round and then won the run-off against Aušra Papirtienė with roughly 57% of the vote, thus flipping that seat to TS-LKD.

„Constituency1: Kalniečiai – Term Start1: 13 November 2020 – Predecessor1: Aušra Papirtienė“

In the 2008 parliamentary election, Anušauskas was ranked 23rd on the Homeland Union’s candidate list but rose to 13th place after preferential votes were counted, earning him a Seimas seat.

„Konservatorių sąraše ženkliai pakilo istorikas Arvydas Anušauskas – iš 23-ios vietos jis pakilo į 13-ąją ir pateko į Seimą.“

He is legally required to declare his assets and income annually to Lithuania’s State Tax Inspectorate; his public asset declarations over the past decade show modest wealth (such as an apartment and savings), commensurate with his public service income and without irregular surges.

„As a member of the Homeland Union... he was elected to the Seimas in 2008 and reelected in 2012, 2016 and 2020“

No unexplained changes in Anušauskas’s wealth have been flagged by authorities or media – any growth in his net worth appears to align with his earned income and routine transactions (e.g., gradual savings accumulation or property sales).

„He focuses on the history of... KGB actions in Lithuania... On 7 December 2020, he was approved to be the Minister of National Defence... On 15 March 2024, he announced his resignation.“

According to his 2022 asset declaration, Anušauskas (together with his spouse) declared about €71,784 in total assets and €12,089 in liabilities. This included a newly inherited apartment valued at €60,000, a car worth ~€12,000, only €1,784 in savings, and a personal debt of €5,900.

„Krašto apsaugos ministro Arvydo Anušausko deklaraciją papildė nauja eilutė apie turimo būsto vertę, kuri siekia 60 tūkst. eurų... Kelių transporto priemonės vertė – 12 tūkst. eurų, turimų piniginių lėšų suma – 372 eurai... A. Anušauskas taip pat turi pasiskolinęs 5,9 tūkst. eurų.“

For most of the past decade, Anušauskas owned no real estate and showed very limited savings in his declarations. He and his wife lived in a rented home (despite his eligibility for a free MP apartment), and he publicly noted that after their child’s birth they prioritized expenses over savings, resulting in near-zero declared savings.

„„...galėčiau gauti nemokamai butą Seimo viešbutyje, bet jau ne vienerius metus nuomoju... Kiekviena vaikus auginanti šeima gali patvirtinti, kad išlaidos gimus vaikui būna tikrai nemenkos. Ir taupyti vaiko sąskaita, kad deklaracijoje santaupų eilutė atrodytų gražiau, kažkaip nesinori“, – savo feisbuko paskyroje rašė A. Anušauskas.“

The significant increase in Anušauskas’s declared assets in 2022 was due to inheritance. He inherited his late parents’ apartment (worth about €60k) in Vilnius, which he added to his declaration and clarified publicly. His 93-year-old mother continues to reside in that flat.

„Krašto apsaugos ministro Arvydo Anušausko deklaraciją papildė nauja eilutė apie turimo būsto vertę, kuri siekia 60 tūkst. eurų. Ministras savo „Facebook“ paskyroje nurodė, kad butą paveldėjo iš mirusio tėčio… jame gyvena jo 93 metų mama.“

Anušauskas’s income comes entirely from public sector employment. As a Member of Seimas, his base monthly salary is set by law (on the order of €3,000–€3,500 gross in recent years, higher if holding committee positions). During his 2020–2024 tenure as Minister of National Defence, he earned roughly €4,800 gross per month (the standard ministerial salary).

„Užsienio reikalų ministerijos… vidutinis mėnesinis… darbo užmokestis (EUR) neatskaičius mokesčių. Pareigybės pavadinimas | … Ministras | 1 | 4 847“

His public disclosures indicate no significant private business interests or outside income. Anušauskas has not reported any substantial assets beyond his state salaries, book royalties (which are relatively minor), and the apartment he inherited. This reinforces that his net worth growth aligns with official income streams.

„A. Anušausko deklaracijoje – butas (~60 tūkst. €), automobilis (~12 tūkst. €), piniginės lėšos (tik 1 784 €) ir pasiskolinti 5,9 tūkst. €. (Jokių kitų reikšmingų turto eilučių neįrašyta.)“

In the mid-2000s, Anušauskas’s earnings as an academic were modest – for instance, a Vytautas Magnus University associate professor earned about 4,494 LTL per month in 2007 (roughly €1,300) – whereas as a government minister by 2021, his gross monthly salary was about €4,847.

„VDU docentas uždirba 4494 litus per mėnesį... / Užsienio reikalų ministerijos duomenimis, ministro pareiginė alga 2021 m. – 4 847 € (bruto).“

In August 2023, Lithuania’s Prosecutor General opened a pre-trial investigation into Defence Minister Anušauskas for possibly disclosing sensitive information (about tank procurement) from a State Defence Council meeting.

„pradėjo ikiteisminį tyrimą dėl krašto apsaugos ministro Arvydo Anušausko paskelbtos informacijos po Valstybės gynimo tarybos posėdžio“

In October 2022, MP Agnė Širinskienė accused Anušauskas of disclosing a state secret to his wife Lina by warning her of the coming war in Ukraine weeks in advance, though the Seimas ethics panel chose not to investigate the claim.

„„...gal net pora savaičių iki... karo man pasakė... bus realūs karo veiksmai“, – interviu prisiminė ministro žmona. A. Širinskienė mano, jog iš šios citatos akivaizdu, kad ministras... atskleidė valstybės paslaptį... informaciją, nors žmona teisės... neturi.“

In 2012, after publishing a list of KGB officers, Anušauskas stated that a list of secret KGB agents in Lithuania was being prepared for public release.

„paskelbus kadrinių KGB darbuotojų sąrašą, šiuo metu rengiamas ir netrukus turėtų būti... slaptųjų... agentų sąrašas“

In 2007, Anušauskas won a prize in the Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission’s "Pragiedruliai" contest for television programs.

„Awards: prize in the contest Pragiedruliai held by the Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania (2007)“

He received the "Lithuanian Diplomacy Star" honorary award from the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2012.

„decoration of honour Lithuanian Diplomacy Star from the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2012)“

In 2013, he was awarded the 4th Class Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana by the President of Estonia.

„4th Class Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana of the Republic of Estonia (2013)“

In 2018, Arvydas Anušauskas was honored with the Cross of the Knight of the Order for Merits to Lithuania.

„Cross of the Knight of the Order for Merits to Lithuania (2018)“

He is the author or co-author of 26 books and has written 14 documentary film scripts, mostly on historical subjects such as Soviet terror, the KGB, and intelligence.

„Publications: author and co-author of 26 books; author of 14 documentary scripts... Most recent books: Teroras; KGB: Visiškai slaptai; Lietuvos žvalgyba; Išdavystė...“

He speaks Russian, English, Polish, and French in addition to his native Lithuanian.

„Moka rusų, anglų, lenkų, prancūzų kalbas.“

He served as a volunteer in Lithuania’s national defence forces in 1990 and is a reserve member of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

„Krašto apsaugos savanoris (1990); Lietuvos kariuomenės atsargos... )“