Mantas Danielius, a Lithuanian citizen suspected of espionage, has been detained and later arrested for two months, the police has confirmed.
“We can confirm that this person has been detained and suspected of espionage,” police spokesman Ramūnas Matonis told BNS on Tuesday.
He said the suspect had been remanded in custody for two months.
The pre-trial investigation, launched in cooperation with the State Security Department, is being carried out by officers of the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau and is being led by the Vilnius District Prosecutor’s Office, Matonis said.
“In order not to prejudice the investigation, we cannot comment on the details of this investigation for the time being,” he said.
Speaking with BNS later, Justas Laučius, who leads the Vilnius District Prosecutor’s Office, said Danielius is suspected of spying for Belarus. He is facing a prison term ranging from six to fifteen years.
The independent Belarusian TV channel Belsat reported that Lithuanian law enforcement authorities suspect that Danielius infiltrated Belarusian opposition organisations in Lithuania and passed information about them to Belarusian intelligence agencies.
According to Belsat, Danielius presented himself as a business consultant, gave lectures and offered legal assistance to Belarusians who had fled government repressions to Lithuania. Among the organisations allegedly targeted by Danielius are Our House and Dapamoga.
Representatives of Belarusian opposition media have also confirmed to LRT RADIO that Danielius, a lawyer, is suspected of having passed information to the Belarusian KGB.
For its part, the State Security Department (VSD), Lithuania’s intelligence agency, has not yet commented on the ongoing investigation.
Interested in sensitive information
Olga Karach, head of the Belarusian International Center for Civil Initiatives “Our House”, said her organisation worked with Danielius, who provided legal assistance.
“We are in dire need of legal assistance, so Mantas Danielius started going around to all Belarusian organisations, offering his services as a lawyer. He is a really good lawyer but, unfortunately, as it turned out, he was recruited by the KGB and approached Belarusian organisations as part of the KGB’s task,” Karach told BNS.
In her words, Danielius was secretly filming people and trying to get access to sensitive information.
The Belarusians who spoke with the Lithuanian noted his excessive attention to certain topics, his attempts to get access to databases and financial information, Karach said.
“I even called the State Tax Inspectorate and warned them not to provide any information if Danielius contacts them because, in our opinion, he’s working for the KGB,” she said.
Danielius’ activities did not cause any damage to “Our House”, Karach said. However, he harmed people who carried aid for political prisoners from Lithuania to Belarus, she added.
“Unfortunately, Danielius was able to identify several of these couriers, and people had to apply for asylum in Lithuania because they could no longer return home, even though they did not take part in protests,” Karach said.
The head of “Our House” is convinced there is a KGB-created network of individuals in Lithuania who collect information about Belarusian refugees.
“Laurynas Ragelskis used to constantly attack us wherever we appeared, approaching, insulting, and filming us. He filmed people taking part in protests and tried to destroy our memorial for killed Belarusians,” Karach said.
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
