The unrest outside the Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday night could be construed as “anti-state activity”, according to the State Security Department (VSD).
“In the wake of the riot outside the Seimas on Tuesday night, there are grounds to believe that anti-government protests are turning into actions destabilising the state,” the intelligence agency said in a comment to BNS.
Read more: Police detain 26 people during riots outside Lithuanian parliament, 18 officers injured
Protesters attacking the parliament, MPs and police officers with sticks and stones had “characteristics of anti-state activity”, according to the VSD.
“These actions cross the line between the right to peaceful protest and responsibility for violent attacks,” it said.
The department says it is collecting evidence about the riot outside the Seimas as well as the unrest that happened on the same day at a migrant camp in Rūdninkai. Interior Minister Agnė Bilotaitė has suggested the two events were coordinated, although she did not elaborate.
The VSD says it has no evidence of any foreign involvement in recent protests. It notes, however, that “individuals convicted of anti-state activities and known for using anti-Lithuanian rhetoric” have been actively involved.
Around 5,000 people took part in a protest rally on Tuesday against the government's planned restrictions for unvaccinated people. Several hundred remained and surrounded the parliament building, clashing with the police.
Eighteen officers – 12 of the police and six officers of the Public Security Service (VST) – were injured during the unrest.
Police detained 26 people and launched a pre-trial investigation into rioting.
Read more: Protesters clash with police as rally outside Lithuanian parliament turns violent
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