VILNIUS - A Lithuanian customs officer was hospitalized in Vienna after suffering a poisoning episode last week. She was released from the hospital on Aug. 10.
Renata Takiniene, 36, was hospitalized directly from her post at the Moldovan-Ukrainian border on Aug. 4 with symptoms of severe poisoning. The Lithuanian customs officer was observing checks on containers with a Moldovan interpreter. According to Takiniene, she smelled something and suddenly started feeling sick. She and the interpreter were rushed to a Chisinau hospital.
The EU has delegated customs officers to the mission at the Moldovan-Ukrainian border to help these countries in their efforts against smuggling into the separatist region of Trans-Dniester.
After Moldovan doctors realized they could not provide proper medical treatment, a decision was made to move the officers to Austria.
According to information available to heads of the EU Border Assistance Mission, the women might have suffered poisoning from an illegal explosive mixture.
The Lithuanian Embassy in Austria took responsibility for Takiniene after she was released from the hospital.
Takiniene's colleague from Moldova remains in the toxicological hospital, director of the Foreign Ministry's Consular Department, Vaidotas Verba, told the Baltic News Service.
