The Minsk court has found Lithuanian citizen Elena Ramanauskienė guilty of espionage and sentenced her to six years in prison, the country’s media reports.
The verdict can be appealed in accordance with the procedure established by Belarusian legislation, the reports say.
It was previously reported that Ramanauskienė may have been detained by Belarusian officers last year when she was on her way back to Lithuania from Belarus where she was visiting her family members.
Information on the website of the Central Electoral Commission indicates that Ramanauskienė ran for the local council in Druskininkai in 2019. She previously worked at the Belarus-owned Belorus sanatorium in Druskininkai.
Minsk claims that while working as the head of marketing at the Belorus sanatorium, Ramanauskienė was recruited by Lithuanian intelligence. She was accused of repeatedly providing information about the guests of the sanatorium, including high-ranking Belarusian officials.
Previously, Andrei Kobel, the former head doctor of the Belorus sanatorium, was sentenced to nine years in prison in Belarus. He was accused of collaborating with the Lithuanian State Security Department.
The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said in a comment to LRT.lt that it is aware of the situation. The ministry said it has no reason to believe that the accusations against the Lithuanian citizen are well-founded and is providing Ramanauskienė with all possible consular assistance.
The Foreign Ministry has not yet received any official information from the Belarusian authorities about the court verdict, it said.
The ministry reiterates its recommendation to Lithuanian citizens not to travel to Belarus, where they may be illegally detained, charged with fictitious offences, and interrogated by the Belarusian security structures
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