After 15-year manhunt, former Snoras shareholder Vladimiras Antonovas brought to court

Vladimiras Antonovas, a former shareholder of the collapsed Snoras bank, was brought to Lithuania’s Court of Appeals on Monday as the court began substantive hearings in the case against the bank’s ex-shareholders, LRT reports.

Antonovas was extradited from France to Lithuania at the end of May after French courts approved Lithuania’s request. He appeared in court under heavy guard, restrained and escorted by six officers from the Public Security Service.

Another defendant, former shareholder Raimundas Baranauskas, remains at large and will be tried in absentia. According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, he has been internationally wanted for 15 years, with his last known location being Russia. The court had previously requested Russian authorities to serve Baranauskas with the verdict and case information at all known addresses, but received no response.

In November last year, Vilnius Regional Court sentenced both Antonovas and Baranauskas in absentia to 10.5 years in prison each. They were convicted of eight intentional crimes, including abuse of office, large-scale embezzlement, fraudulent bankruptcy, money laundering, and falsification of financial records. Antonovas was also recognised as the main organiser of the crimes.

The court ordered both to pay €375.18 million in damages and confiscate €105 million worth of their illegally acquired assets. European Arrest Warrants were issued for both, and their assets in Lithuania, the UK, and France were seized until the damages are repaid.

Antonovas was arrested in western France in December under a different name, following a European Arrest Warrant issued by Lithuania. France’s Court of Cassation rejected his appeal on May 13, finalising his extradition. He was handed over to Lithuanian authorities on May 22.

The Court of Appeals had postponed the case hearings until the end of June after Antonovas’ lawyer, Paulius Vinkleris, was unable to participate. The defence has appealed the regional court’s ruling.

Prosecutors state that Antonovas and Baranauskas embezzled assets worth €509.18 million, caused €466.67 million in damages to Snoras and its creditors, and wasted €14.5 million.