Thirteen people involved in plotting assassinations in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius acted in the interests of the Russian military intelligence service GRU. The Lithuanian criminal investigation department wrote this in an email on Monday declaration.
The suspects are said to have planned to murder a Lithuanian and a Russian activist, among other things. The police have now arrested nine of the thirteen suspects; Lithuania has issued a European search warrant for the other four.
Tracking device
The police do not mention the two activists by name. According to the Reuters news agency, the Lithuanian activist would demonstrate and raise funds for Ukraine. The Russian activist demonstrates for the rights of the Bashkir minority in Russia. He had received asylum in Lithuania.
The Lithuanian police write that they started their investigation after the Russian activist reported a tracking device in his car. Later, according to the police, it became clear that those who tried to follow the Russian activist were also planning an attack on the Lithuanian activist.
The thirteen suspects are said to come from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Greece, among others. According to the Lithuanian criminal investigation, the investigation showed that they were also behind other acts of sabotage and terrorism against allies of Ukraine.
In the interest of the GROe
For example, they are said to have “collected data on military infrastructure” and set fire to a military transport in Bulgaria that was destined for Ukraine. According to the Lithuanian police, those who ordered the murders acted “in the interests of” the Russian military intelligence service GRU.
According to investigators, the two Greek nationals charged with carrying out the murders were given advice on how to enter their victims’ homes and workplaces. They are also said to have received advice about “the purchase of the murder weapon and how to make this weapon disappear later.”
“We are witnessing hybrid crimes against European Union countries, their national security and persons providing support to Ukraine,” Saulius Briginas, deputy head of the Lithuanian Criminal Investigation Department, said in Vilnius on Monday.
Ukrainian police told Reuters on Monday that this was a “Russian intelligence network”, which also prepared assassination attempts on Ukrainian journalists and a security service employee. The Kremlin has not yet responded to the allegations. According to Reuters, Russia has always denied such operations in the past.
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