Citing an unidentified police source, Lithuanian radio reported Friday that Viktor Uspaskich, ex-economy minister and former Labor Party leader, wanted in the Baltic state on suspicion of fraud in managing party finances, was arrested in Moscow in the early hours of September 15.
"The Prosecutor General's Office knows nothing about the arrest of Uspaskich," the information office said.
Prosecutors also said Lithuania has not filed any arrest or extradition requests with regard to Uspaskich.
Prosecutors earlier admitted that their colleagues from the former Soviet republic have asked them for "legal aid" in the Uspaskich case, which they denied, saying offences attributed to him do not qualify as crimes in Russia. They did not elaborate.
Lithuanian authorities put Uspaskich, 47, who is also suspected of receiving funds from Russian security services, on the international wanted list after he failed to turn up for questioning. His party offices and apartment were searched in late May.
Uspaskich, who has reportedly been living in Russia since May, dismissed the accusations as politically motivated.
The businessman was elected to parliament in 2000. In 2003, he founded the Labor Party, which won a decisive victory in parliamentary elections the next year. In mid-2005, Uspaskich resigned as economy minister in the cabinet, formed after the elections, and later quit as party leader.
