Lithuanian court issues 6-year prison sentence for Paleckis for Russia spying

VILNIUS – A regional court in Lithuania's northern city of Siauliai has on Tuesday found Algirdas Paleckis, a former Lithuanian politician, guilty of spying for Russia and sentenced him for six years in prison.

Vilnius businessman Deimantas Bertauskas, who plead guilty in the same case and testified, was exempted from criminal liability, Vytautas Joncas, spokesman for the court, told BNS.

Prosecutors had asked the court to sentences Paleckis to nine years in prison and exempt Bertauskas of criminal liability.

The ruling is not final and can be appealed with the Lithuanian Court of Appeal.

According to the Prosecutor General's Office, the defendants, acting in an organized group with a Russian intelligence officer and other Russian citizens, including one found guilty in the January 13, 1991 crackdown case, allegedly collected information of interest for Russian intelligence in Lithuania between February 2017 and October 2018 for monetary and other remuneration.