Lithuanian KGB informers' identities may be revealed; PM urges caution

The Prime Minister of Lithuania, Algirdas Butkevicius, says that representatives of law enforcement agencies have already become acquainted with documents signed by former head of state Vytautas Landsbergis which state that the identities of people who voluntarily informed about their collaboration with the KGB will not be revealed. According to the prime minister, the possible disclosure of the identity of these people will be considered at the Political Council again.

Butkevicius claims the documents were presented to him only after the information about the possible disclosure of KGB collaborators had been released to the public.

"We had not seen the statement at the Seimas Board or at the Political Council. It was shown to me in my office," the prime minister told national radio.

According to the prime minister, the issue will be further considered at the Political Council, as a politically responsible decision must be made following the revelation of this new information.

"If promises were given to people, then they really must not be broken," said Butkevicius.

Files of KGB collaborators may be declassified as the 15-year period of confidentiality ends in 2015. Vytautas Landsbergis who signed the aforementioned documents was leader of the pro-independence movement Sajudis in the late '80s and early '90s. On 11 March 1990 he was elected chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania and until 1992 was de facto the highest-ranking official in Lithuania.