Lithuanian prosecutors have blamed the Russian army intelligence service for being behind an arson assault on an Ikea retailer in Vilnius final 12 months, calling it “an act of terrorism”.
Lithuania, a Nato member, has been a staunch ally of Ukraine since Moscow invaded in February 2022, and has continuously warned of Russian sabotage makes an attempt.
On Monday, the Lithuanian prosecutor common’s workplace attributed the arson assault in Vilnius in Might 2024 to Russia’s army intelligence company, the GRU.
There have been no casualties, however the prosecutor Arturas Urbelis advised reporters: “We regard this act as an act of terrorism with critical penalties.”
Two Ukrainian residents have been suspects within the Ikea arson case, with one being detained in Lithuania and the opposite in Poland, he added.
“It has been established that by way of a sequence of intermediaries … the organisers of those crimes are in Russia and that is linked to army intelligence and safety forces,” Urbelis mentioned.
The prosecutor’s workplace mentioned the particular person detained in Lithuania was suspected of getting entered Poland in spring 2024.
“Throughout a secret assembly in Warsaw, he and one other particular person agreed to set fireplace to and blow up procuring centres in Lithuania and Latvia for a reward of €10,000 (practically $11,000),” the workplace mentioned in an announcement.
“Multiple grocery store has been set on fireplace, and never simply supermarkets,” Urbelis mentioned when requested about whether or not the arson was linked to related circumstances in neighbouring Poland.
“It’s apparent that the individuals we’ve got recognized, the perpetrators and the intermediaries, are additionally linked to the prison acts dedicated in Poland,” he added.
Poland was presently investigating about 30 alleged acts of preparation or fee of sabotage, the authorities mentioned.
The Polish prosecutor Przemyslaw Nowak mentioned: “After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we’ve got certainly noticed a rise within the exercise of overseas providers in Poland, together with primarily the providers of Russia.”
“Sadly, we’ve got proof that in Poland, and never solely in Poland, there are a number of organised teams that plan and perform acts of sabotage,” he added.
Commenting on Lithuania’s findings, the Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, mentioned it was “exceptionally perfidious” for Russia to rent Ukrainians as perpetrators of sabotage acts.
“Pricey allies, the investigation of the Lithuanian prosecutor’s workplace has confirmed our suspicions that accountable for setting fires to procuring centres in Vilnius and Warsaw are the Russian secret providers,” he mentioned on X.
“Good to know earlier than negotiations. Such is the character of this state,” he added, referring to potential talks on war-torn Ukraine’s destiny.
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