A closed court session has started in Lithuania over an alleged sabotage plot targeting equipment bound for Ukraine, raising security concerns.

The Šiauliai District Court in Lithuania has begun hearing a case against a group of six defendants accused of attempting to set fire to military equipment destined for Ukraine. All suspects are foreigners; the main accusation is involvement in terrorism.

The district court ruled to hold the hearings in camera to avoid disclosing official or commercial secrets and in light of the possible questioning of anonymous witnesses.

According to law enforcement, about ten officers from the police’s Special Readiness Unit were brought to the courtroom; some of them were armed with automatic weapons.

Journalists were not allowed to speak with the suspects who speak Spanish; their lawyers spoke with two others who speak Russian.

Charges and nationalities of the defendants

All six suspects are citizens of Belarus, Colombia, Spain, Cuba, Russia, and a person with dual Spanish-Colombian citizenship, currently in custody. According to the Lithuanian prosecutor’s office, in September 2024 they planned an attack on the infrastructure and products of TVC Solutions valued at about €5.5 million, including mobile stations for radio-frequency spectrum analysis intended for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The investigation believes that the defendants attempted to carry out sabotage on instruction and in the interests of Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate. If found guilty, they face up to 15 years in prison.

Case status and next steps

All six suspects are in custody in Lithuania, and the case has been referred to the court. Four other individuals are under pre-trial investigation. One of them was detained in Colombia; the extradition process to Lithuania is ongoing. Three people have been placed on international arrest warrants.

The trial will be conducted in camera due to confidentiality and the possible questioning of anonymous witnesses. Further actions by the investigation and the court will depend on the progress of the investigation and legal procedures.

Looking ahead, the case requires careful attention to safety and legality during the investigation and court proceedings, as well as adherence to the stated norms in the conduct of law enforcement agencies and the court.