Director of the Department of State Security (VSD) Darius Jauniškis says that the Belarusian regime is determined to kidnap Lithuanian citizens, reports the portal "15min.lt".
"We are aware of the situation and it is worrying. I assess it in the way that the Belarusian regime switched to abducting Lithuanian citizens without any pretext", said D. Jauniškis during an interview with the portal.
Last month, it was announced in the media that the Minsk City Court found Lithuanian citizen Elena Ramanauskienė guilty of espionage and sentenced her to six years in prison.
Taking into account such actions of Minsk, the head of the VSD urges residents to refuse trips to Belarus in order to avoid similar situations.
"I want to warn our citizens who still have the desire to travel to Belarus for cheaper goods or gasoline - this case seriously shows that the Belarusian regime is determined to kidnap Lithuanian citizens. Apparently, there will also be certain measures and reactions from the Lithuanian authorities," he said.
"(...) They kidnap citizens, fabricate evidence, convict and imprison them based on it. These are very disturbing trends. I draw the attention of the public - think seriously when driving in that direction, because you may find yourself in the shoes of that citizen", noted D. Jauniškis.
ELTA reminds that in June the Belarusian media reported on E. Ramanauskienė, a Lithuanian citizen convicted in Minsk. She was charged with espionage and sentenced to six years in prison.
She was detained on the territory of Belarus, her criminal case was examined behind closed doors. The verdict can be appealed and protested in accordance with the procedure established by Belarusian legislation.
It is said that E. Ramanauskienė, who worked as the head of the Belarus marketing service at the Druskininkai sanatorium, was recruited by the Lithuanian State Security Department more than 10 years ago.
Allegedly, the accused repeatedly provided information about guests of the sanatorium who came on vacation, among whom were high-ranking Belarusian officials.
Andrejus Kobelis, the former chief doctor of the "Belarus" sanatorium, was sentenced to nine years in prison for treason. He was also accused of cooperation with the State Security Department of Lithuania.
Miglė Valonytė (ELTA)
