The Prosecutor General's Office of Lithuania has referred a criminal case regarding the arson of a shopping center in Vilnius to court. Russian special services are behind the arson in Lithuania and a similar incident in Poland, according to the conclusion. One of the suspects has just been charged, while the other has been detained by Polish special services.
Details
UNN reports with reference to Lietuvos nacionalinis radijas ir televizija, Wprost, and the Polish Prime Minister's page on the social network X.
Lithuanian investigators have established that Russian military intelligence is responsible for the arson of an IKEA store in Vilnius, as well as a covered market in Warsaw.
The arson of an IKEA store in Vilnius and the attempted arson of a market at 44 Marywilska Street in Warsaw occurred on May 9, 2024.
Conclusion of Lithuanian prosecutors
According to the Prosecutor General's Office of Lithuania, the crimes were committed by a citizen of Ukraine who was a minor at the time.
He acted in the interests of Russian military structures and special services.
The Lithuanian Prosecutor's Office claims to have evidence collected in the pre-trial investigation materials, according to which "there are sufficient grounds to believe" that there was a pre-established organized terrorist group with the aim of committing terrorist crimes in Lithuania and Latvia.
Arson in Warsaw
Information obtained by Lithuanian investigators indicates that Russian intelligence may also be behind the arson of the shopping hall at 44 Marywilska Street in Warsaw. The second suspect will remain in the hands of Polish law enforcement agencies as part of cooperation between the two countries.
In total, it is about one of the nine people detained last spring.
Comment by the head of the Polish government
The Lithuanian prosecutor's office stated that Russian special services are behind the arsons in Vilnius and Warsaw (Marywilska). This is consistent with our suspicions. As with the attempted arson of a paint factory in Wroclaw, the Russians hired Ukrainian citizens. Exceptional perfidy
How do Russians choose arsonists?
Arturas Urbelis, a representative of the Prosecutor General's Office of Lithuania, explains:
These are young people who clearly lack life experience, who, due to known circumstances, found themselves in a rather difficult financial situation. Recruiting such people for such tasks is popular. People understand what they are doing, but they clearly do not understand the ultimate goals. And this activity is dangerous
He added that the arsonists were promised 10,000 euros and a BMW car.