Q: Arvydas, what did make you speak up about terror and ratchet 
in Lithuania? 

A: I always say what I think. But I will start from examples. The new 
ones. Just when I mentioned to "Respublika" that I'm about to say all 
the truth about corruption in sports, Zalgiris managers started to get 
terrorised by "Lietuvos rytas" sponsors. Tomas Kucinskas people made a 
call to us to Israel and said: if I don't shut up, they will void 
sponsorship deal with "Zalgiris"... Imagine our state before the 
Maccabi match. Isn't it terror? Does it help to lift our players' 
spirit? How come does T.Kucinskas have a right to make orders around 
and tell people to speak or shut up while distributing millions he 
doesn't own. Maybe I would do stuff G.Vainauskas does - puts up 
"Svyturys" stands and advertise their product - for half a million 
less. Besides, "Zalgiris" is the LKL champion. We beat "Lietuvos rytas". 
So advertising through us is more effective. I wonder what would 
owners of regular business do with a manager who wastes their money. 
Or if they would see pictures in G.Vainauskas "Style" magazine. He 
(T.Kucinskas) looks so beautiful and smart there with his wife. Isn't 
this hidden bribery? 

Q: So Arvydas, when you were speaking about G.Vainauskas' ratchet, 
you had this one particular case in mind? 

A: No, i was talking about the whole dirty system. Take a look at the 
press... Open yesterday's "Respublika" or "Lietuvos rytas" editions of 
half-a-year ago. For months G.Vainauskas terrorised premier minister 
of Lithuania Algirdas Brazauskas, called him doddering old man just 
because he promised to help Zalgiris. The most disgusting part of the 
story is it's end. When G.Vainauskas' wife journalist Bronyte 
publically nurtures premier minister in editorials of "Lietuvos rytas", 
how he was wrong thinking about sponsoring Zalgiris. Imagine if 
Brazauskas' wife Kristina, who is known for her hot temper, would call 
G.Vainauskas "to her office" and would start to explain him how old 
and bold he is.

Q: Arvydas, don't you want to prove to people of Lithuania that with 
attacking premier minister, Vainauskas wanted to show everybody what 
will happen to those who will support Zalgiris? 

A: He is proving it himself. In pages of "Lietuvos rytas" paper. Isn't 
it weird that Klaipeda produced "Svyturys" bear doesn't sponsor 
"Klaipedos Neptunas" club, but Vainauskas' club in Vilnius? Isn't it 
weird that Kaunas based IT company "Sonex" doesn't support team from 
their town, Euroleague champion, but Vainauskas from Vilnius? Aren't 
there any patriotism, any Kaunas pride left? Let any sane man explain 
me this - how can "Alita" director Vytautas Junevicius honestly speak 
about victories of "Alita" basketball club (my note: "Alita" is a 
government owned champagne and other alchohol drinks producing factory, 
based in Alytus town), when then-premier-minister G.Vagnorius was 
forcing him to transfer part of company's profit to account of his Sri 
Lanka friend G.Vainauskas.

Q: Why do you always say "Vainauskas", "Vainauskas" and not "Lietuvos 
rytas" basketball club"? 

A: Take a close look at yesterday's "Respublika" article about Kaunas 
district attorney Kestutis Betingis, who lost his job in Vilnius, 
because he was trying to fight corruption in Lithuania. If it's true, 
then we can suspect "Lietuvos rytas" ball club has a purpose to wash 
away money of sponsors.

Q: Why do you think it's hard for Zalgiris to get sponsors? 

A: The problem is one and clear. A lot of businessmen are afraid to 
sponsor Zalgiris, because they are terrorised by "Lietuvos rytas". 
Not only private businessmen, but also government managed enterprises 
are touched. People are afraid. It seems you got a deal, but then it 
starts: "we just can't", because they are pushed through "Lietuvos 
rytas" paper. "Stumbras" was our long-term sponsor, but owners have 
changed and they are talking about "reviewing the deal".

Q: Problems are only with sponsors? 

A: Sponsors, referees and players are terrorised. Our financial 
income is cut short at first, then interviews with former Zalgiris 
players, who are owned some money by the club, are printed in 
"Lietuvos rytas" with gusto. But the club got a debt because it lost 
some sponsors!

Q: What does it got in common with sports? 

A: The same laws act in business, politics and sport. The word "dirty" 
appeal to all three: "dirty sport", "dirty politics", "dirty business".
I'll talk about "dirty sport", because I know basketball the best. 
I'll remind you an example of Aleksandr Gomelskiy. Do you remember a 
Soviet Union superteam called CSKA: the club of soviet army. When 
young talented prospect had come out - In Lithuania, Latvia or Ukraine
he was swiftly called up to "mandatory military service". And he had 
to play for CSKA. It happened to Rimas Kurtinaitis. I was lucky to 
avoid it, because i entered Lithuanian agroculture academy and they 
couldn't get me.

An artificial monster CSKA, which no one could defeat. That team 
always came away with a first place. Other teams were just for number. 
Not accidentally nucleus of Soviet Union national team was formed from 
CSKA supermen. Only for them - best practice conditions and salaries. 
Only they had a right to call themselves champions of USSR. So that's 
why we, Zalgiris players, had the ultimate desire to beat them. And 
lithuanians understood that perfectly then. When players of CSKA and 
Zalgiris entered the court, the whole arena chanted "Lie-tu-va". It 
was war not only against russian heroes, but the regime itself.
And what happened to lithuanians now? The government of Kaunas district 
are afraid to stand for their home. With breaking the contract they 
not only broke their own word, but also betrayed common people, who 
elected them. It's true that governance is a trough. With betraying 
Zalgiris we also betray symbol of Lithuanian resistance against 
occupation. And that concerns not only Kaunas, but all lithuanians as 
well. I made a promise that I will finish my career in Lithuania and 
Zalgiris. I kept this promise. Wheather I will stay here and continue 
with Zalgiris will depend on lithuanian people. If people continue to 
fear government, fear shadow of Vainauskas, competition in sport will 
be fake. Is it interesting to play of results are known in advance? Is 
it fun to enter the basketball court, when you are terrorised by 
sponsors by telephone? How can a fight between men have any honor, 
when even premiere minister is afraid of your foe? I am all for 
honorable competition. I won't imitate fight on court. Because I am 
afraid of no one. I am lithuanian. And that says it all.

Q: We are under impression, that "Lietuvos rytas" is aiming that you 
would leave Zalgiris after this season and leave Lithuania... 

A: I am not gonna leave anything. The team is 60 years old already and 
it has to be proud of it's hundred years history one day.

Q: Thank you for conversation 

A: Thank you. For being present.