Russia continues to threaten Lithuania: for its actions against the monument
The Kremlin is beginning to intimidate those who do so because of the relocation of monuments to Soviet soldiers. Investigators warn that Russia may prosecute Lithuanian politicians or officials for actions against the monuments. Professor Justinas Žilinskas of Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) told LNK about it.
Not only the judges who heard the case on January 13, but also J. Žilinskas had already received similar warnings. Algirdas Paleckis, who has now been convicted, may have informed Moscow of his insight in the January 13 case.
“It was here before it became clear that the very person who was collecting information about who was involved in the January 13 case. And I was very surprised to find that I was on the list of those who aroused interest as well. Well, apparently because I was interested in those issues all the time, I wrote about them. It turns out I could have had fun, ”said the MRU professor.
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He revealed there may be problems traveling while not doing so, but safeguards were necessary.
“It’s just endowed with psychological tension. The rules have just been agreed – that I will let our authorities know before I leave. And when I return, I report that everything is fine. Plus I still had this document, which, if anything, I could use if I had any problems. I have been in contact with our diplomatic and consular missions all the time, so that if I can, I immediately call for help and help. Because the situation was such that no one knew exactly how it could be and what. It was completely preventive and interesting, “said J. Žilinskas.
The rules have just been agreed – that I will let our authorities know before I leave. And when I return, I report that everything is fine.
The professor said he has no plans to travel to Russia or Belarus yet, but also other countries to avoid.
“It was said that they have good relations with those countries and Russia, it is better not to visit. And I usually listen to such warnings. Just keep in mind that my case was completely extreme and small. Because, I know, I wasn’t, just out of a case for me, which, as I said, was minimal. But when it comes to the judges of the January 13 case, the whole case is really very serious for them, ”J. Žilinskas assured.
Russia is now threatening Lithuanian mayors, who are destroying Soviet monuments in their municipalities. Anyone, no matter how uncomfortable with the Kremlin, can accept such allegations and should check before traveling.
“I think caution has never hurt. The second thing is that now the situation has changed a bit, in my understanding. Because Russia has a lot of other worries. I do not think that its law enforcement will be able to turn around so quickly, because here it is necessary not only to initiate a case, to organize the entire investigation procedure, but also to place international search orders and the like. That threat, I would not say, is so imminent. “But, of course, I think that here are the very important tasks of our institution to follow the international law enforcement response, to see if Russia’s international arrest warrants, which need to be reported as soon as possible, are an element of political persecution,” said the professor. . .
International search is a rather mechanical thing.
“If a search opportunity arises, you may be at risk anywhere. Here are a few things to know – that there is a case and that there is an international search. Suppose that if the case is quietly instituted, or massive – all the mayors who removed the Soviet balloon on their territory – the Lithuanian authorities may not yet know. But the most important thing is the Interpol search engine. “The Interpol office in Lithuania and the Prosecutor General’s Office must monitor this,” he explained.