Lithuanian couple sentenced to prison for spying for Belarus

A Lithuanian court has sentenced a couple to prison terms of six and a half and seven years for spying on behalf of Belarus, state broadcaster LRT reports.

The Klaipėda Regional Court on Wednesday found Mindaugas Januičius and Tatjana Beleckaja guilty of espionage for Belarus. Januičius received a seven-year prison sentence, while Beleckaja was sentenced to six years and six months. Both are Lithuanian citizens and have the right to appeal the verdict.

The trial was held behind closed doors, and case details remain classified. The couple, who were in a relationship, were detained in November 2023 and have been held in custody since. Januičius was previously a member of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union but was later expelled.

According to prosecutors, the couple was recruited by Belarusian military intelligence (GRU) in May 2022 during a trip to Minsk. They were tasked with gathering information on Lithuania’s armed forces, volunteer defence systems, the Riflemen’s Union, and NATO military presence. Prosecutors also stated they collected data on Belarusian opposition figures in Lithuania.

Deputy Prosecutor General Artūras Urbelis said the couple monitored military exercises, infrastructure, and security measures ahead of the 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius. While the information they provided was not classified, authorities say it could be used for military planning against Lithuania.

Investigators confirmed the couple received financial compensation for their activities. Both defendants were present via video link from separate prisons—Januičius from Šiauliai and Beleckaja from Panevėžys.