‘January 13’ suspect detained in Italy

  • 2014-05-16
  • From wire reports, VILNIUS

Lithuania’s Office of Prosecutor General will hold a brief press conference to provide the latest information about the individual detained in Italy, who is allegedly one of the suspects in the ‘January 13’ case, reports ELTA. Additional information is expected from Tomas Krusna, deputy chief prosecutor of the Criminal Prosecution Department at the Lithuanian Prosecutor General's Office.

Information about an individual detained in a Milan airport, who may be one of the suspects of the ‘January 13’ case, was received on Wednesday, May 14.

Based on preliminary data, the detained Russian citizen could be one of the suspects who, as an army officer, took part in the tragic January 13 events outside the Press House and TV tower during Lithuania’s struggle for independence two decades ago.

Warrants for the arrest of 79 suspects in the January 13 case have been issued. The suspects are citizens of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

Over 1,000 unarmed Lithuanian civilians were injured and 14 were killed during an attempt by the Soviet army and Special Forces to take over the Vilnius TV Tower on Jan. 13, 1991.