Lithuania detains Kyrgyz citizen suspected of financing and supporting terrorism

Lithuanian authorities have detained a citizen of Kyrgyzstan on suspicion of financing and supporting terrorism, the country’s Financial Crime Investigation Service (FNTT) announced on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old man was arrested at Vilnius Airport on March 21 after arriving from Istanbul, following an investigation into alleged ties with the military wing of Hamas. According to the FNTT, the suspect—who holds a Lithuanian residence permit—is accused of repeatedly communicating with representatives of the Hamas-affiliated Al Qassem Brigades and providing financial support to the organisation using cryptocurrency.

A court has remanded the suspect in custody for three months, the maximum pre-trial detention period under Lithuanian law, at the request of prosecutors. The investigation is being led by the FNTT in cooperation with the State Security Department (VSD), with oversight from the Organised Crime and Corruption Investigation Division of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

The case remains under active pre-trial investigation.