Lithuanian woman denies sending message about recruiting fighters for Russia in Ukraine
A Lithuanian court heard testimony on Tuesday from Erika Švenčionienė, who denied recalling a message found on her phone about individuals willing to fight for Russia in Ukraine, LRT reports.
Švenčionienė, standing trial alongside Kazimieras Juraitis and Valerijus Ivanovas on charges of aiding a foreign state against Lithuania and denying Soviet crimes, repeatedly told Vilnius Regional Court she did not remember the message. “I don’t recall,” she stated when questioned about the text, which allegedly referenced people wanting to join Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
Prosecutor Redas Savickas pressed Švenčionienė on her 2022 trip to Moscow, where she attended the funeral of Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov. She admitted traveling to Russia but claimed she could not remember details of meetings there, including the names of Russian officials she may have encountered. She also denied recalling a pro-Russia interview she gave during the visit, in which she reportedly expressed support for Russia’s victory in Ukraine.
When asked about her participation in other Russian funerals and media appearances, Švenčionienė repeatedly responded, “I don’t remember, I don’t remember, I don’t remember,” insisting her actions had caused no harm to Lithuania. She acknowledged her Soviet upbringing and admiration for Russian culture but dismissed allegations of wrongdoing.
Prosecutors played a recorded conversation between Švenčionienė and her daughter, in which she appeared to guarantee her daughter’s education in Minsk or Kaliningrad next year. Švenčionienė explained this as a financial consideration, claiming studies in Russia or Belarus would be cheaper than in Germany.
Co-defendant Juraitis, whose closing remarks strayed from the case, delivered a lecture on sovereign movements despite the judge’s repeated requests to stay on topic. Earlier, both defendants had again attempted—unsuccessfully—to recuse Judge Mindaugas Povilanskas, with Švenčionienė accusing him of political bias for allegedly endorsing Ukrainian flags displayed near the courthouse.
The prosecution maintains that Švenčionienė and Juraitis, as members of the now-defunct International Good Neighbourhood Forum—founded by convicted Russian spy Anatoly Paleckis—acted as a group in 2022 to assist Russia and Belarus in activities against Lithuania. Švenčionienė additionally faces charges of publicly endorsing or trivialising Soviet-era international crimes, as does Ivanovas. If convicted of aiding a foreign state, they could face two to seven years in prison.
The trial will resume on May 18.