Lithuaniua & Russia: Will New Front Of Diplomatic War Open?

The Lithuanian ambassador was recalled from the Russian Federation, also because of threats.

A few days ago, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania decided to withdraw the Ambassador from Russia.

The website Charter97.org addressed for comments to Andrzej Pukszto, a Lithuanian political scientist, head of the department of political science at the University of Vytautas the Great in Kaunas.

- What was the reason for the recall of the Lithuanian Ambassador in Russia?

- Remigijus Motuzas, the Lithuanian Ambassador to Russia, was recalled by the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry for consultations, which will last for seven days. The reason why the Foreign Ministry decided to take such a step is that the Ambassador remains in the status of a special witness (the status of a special witness is assigned if the person is interrogated about their actions, but there are not enough grounds for presenting suspicions - ed.) in the corruption case related to issuing a visa to the Schengen zone for Rinat Nasyrov, the businessman and the owner of one of the Russian banks. The service of special investigations is handling the case.

- Is this the main reason why the Foreign Ministry decided to recall the ambassador?

- No. There is one more. It’s the issue of granting security to the staff of the Lithuanian Embassy in Moscow, as after the Lithuanian court announced the verdict in the case of the events of January 13, 1991 (the Soviet military stormed the Vilnius television center - ed.), they were showered with threats. According to the court verdict made on March 27 in the case of January 13, 67 citizens of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine were sentenced in absentia to imprisonment from 4 to 14 years. Among those convicted was Dmitry Yazov, who during the tragic events in Vilnius served as the Minister of Defense of the USSR.

Strictly speaking, the totality of all events led to the situation when the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry decided to withdraw the ambassador for consultations.

- Is the relationship between Vilnius and Moscow expecting another round of tension?

- So far, it is not possible for me to answer this question precisely, because in the modern history of relations between Vilnius and the Kremlin, there have been several periods of tension. Specifically, in this case I can only say that I hope that it will be possible to avoid opening the next front of a diplomatic war.

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