The Lithuanian prosecutors on Monday convicted the Russian military intelligence service behind the arson attack on an IKEA store in Villanius last year, calling it a “task of terrorism”.
Lithuania, a member of the Baltic State and NATO, has been a staunch associate of Kiev as Moscow attacked Ukraine in February 2022, and often warned against attempts to vandalize Russia.
On Monday, the office of the Lithuanian prosecutor General blamed Russia’s military intelligence agency, GRU for arson of arson at the IKEA Furniture Store in Wilneyus.
“We consider this task as an act of terrorism with serious consequences,” prosecutor Arturus Urabelis told reporters.
The Ikea Store was set in May 2024 in Villanius. There was no casualties due to the fire.
Prosecutors said that two Ukrainian citizens were suspected in the IKEA arson case – one was detained in Lithuania and the other in Poland.
“It has been established that through a series of middlemen … the organizers of these crimes are in Russia and are associated with military intelligence and security forces,” said the Urbelis.
The prosecutor’s office said that a person detained in Lithuania was suspected of entering Poland in Vasant 2024.
The office said in a statement, “During a secret meeting in Warsaw, he and another person agreed to set and blow up shopping centers in Lithuania and Latvia for a reward of 10,000 euros.”
“More than one supermarkets caught fire, and not only in the supermarket,” when asked whether the arson was related to similar cases in Poland, “said Urbelis.
He said, “It is clear that the people we have identified, criminals and middlemen are also associated with criminal acts done in Poland,” he said.
Commenting on the conclusions, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that it was “exceptionally complete” for Russia to appoint Ukrainian as criminals of sabotage.
“Dear friendly, the investigation by the office of the Lithuanian prosecutor has confirmed our suspicion that Russian secret services responsible for setting fire to the shopping center in Villanius and Warsaw are Russian secret services,” he said on X.
He said, “It is good to know before the conversation. The nature of this state is,” he said, referring to the possible dialogue on the fate of the war -torn Ukraine.
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