Mr Linas Pernavas from the 19th of June, 2023 is serving as a Director of the Special Investigation Service of the Republic of Lithuania.

In 1999 he graduated from the Lithuanian University of Law, in 2005 from Vilnius University and obtained a Master of Law qualification.

With a career spanning over two decades, Mr Pernavas joined the interior affairs system in 1995 and steadily climbed the ranks. His career began at the Ignalina District Police Headquarters.

In 2005-2008 he was the Chief of Zarasai District Police Headquarters, in 2008-2014 he served as a Chief of Utena County Police Headquarters and in 2014 he was a Chief of Kaunas District Police Headquarters.

Between 2014 and 2019 he was the Commissioner General of Lithuanian Police.

Mr. Pernavas launched the Police reform which increased public safety, increased the number of police officers on patrol and improved working conditions for officers. The reform made it possible to double the number of officers on the streets, to respond more quickly to the most dangerous calls, and to raise officers’ salaries. During his service as the Commissioner General of Lithuanian Police the public trust in police was on the rise and the highest.

Mr. Pernavas together with other heads of the Lithuanian Police established the Charity and Support Fund for Police Employees. The main and only purpose of the fund is to help officials and employees in extremely critical and difficult situations.

From 2019 (November) till 2023 (June) he served as Lithuania’s police attaché to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and remained there.

In May 2023 the Lithuanian Parliament approved Mr Pernavas as the director of the Special Investigation Service of the Republic of Lithuania. The agency’s main functions are the investigation of corruption cases, corruption prevention, and anti-corruption intelligence.

In 2023 he was elected as the President of the European Partners Against Corruption (EPAC) and the European Union Anti-Corruption Contact Network (EACN). EPAC/EACN is the largest and oldest European network of anti-corruption authorities and police oversight bodies. The aim of the EPAC/EACN network is to strengthen cooperation in the exchange of good practice in the fight against corruption and police oversight.

Mr Pernavas was awarded numerous times throughout his career: the Officer’s Cross of the Order of the Grand Duke Gediminasof Lithuania, the Medal of the Lithuanian Armed Forces “For Merit”, the 1st Degree Cross “100 for Estonian Police”, the 1st Degree Badge of Honour of the Dignitary Protection Service and many other.