Foreigners in Lithuania face trial over attempted arson of military aid to Ukraine
Illustrative photo: Lithuania uncovers terrorist group linked to Russia (Getty Images)
In Lithuania, a case has been sent to court involving six foreigners accused of attempting to carry out a terrorist attack against a private company that supplied equipment to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to a statement from the Lithuanian Prosecutor General’s Office.
What is known about the case’s suspects
Artūras Urbelis, Chief Prosecutor of Lithuania’s Department for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Corruption, reported that the indictment was drawn up on January 12 and submitted to the Šiauliai District Court on January 14.
The six suspects have been charged with participating in a terrorist group, attempting a terrorist act, and financing terrorism.
They hold different nationalities: a Spaniard, a person with dual Spanish-Colombian citizenship, as well as citizens of Colombia, Cuba, Russia, and Belarus.
Prosecutors stated that the planned terrorist act targeted the infrastructure and products of UAB TVC Solutions in the city of Šiauliai in northern Lithuania. In particular, the attack was aimed at mobile stations for analyzing the radio frequency spectrum, intended for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The pre-trial investigation is ongoing regarding four more suspects. One of them has been detained in Colombia, and extradition proceedings to Lithuania have begun, while the other three have been placed on the international wanted list.
Russian connection
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the group’s activities were possibly coordinated by Cuban and Colombian nationals living in Russia and linked to the GRU. Lithuanian investigators suspect that the attempted terrorist acts were carried out under the direction of, and in the interests of, Russian military intelligence.
The indictment totals 258 pages, and all case materials have been compiled into 42 volumes.
Participation in a terrorist group carries a penalty of 5 to 15 years in prison under the Lithuanian Criminal Code.
In October last year, an agent of Russian intelligence was caught in Poland while planning sabotage using drones and disguised explosives.
Earlier, media outlets reported that Russia had created a new secret unit to carry out sabotage and attacks in Europe and beyond.
Additionally, it was reported that in Germany, prosecutors charged three men with espionage on behalf of Russia. All three hold both German and Russian citizenship.
