More trips from Vilnius as security adapts to Sinkevičius living in Jonava apartment

The State Protection Service (VAT) will adapt its operations to accommodate Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius and his family’s decision to remain in their apartment in Jonava rather than move to the official residence in Turniškės, BNS reports.

Paulius Nemira, deputy director of VAT, stated that the service will reorganise its work to ensure continuous protection, noting that this is not unprecedented. “We will simply have to organise things differently and make more trips from Vilnius. We are experienced in providing security at both permanent and temporary locations,” he said.

Security measures will include technical, organisational, and tactical solutions, as well as a physical presence of officers at the residence and its surroundings. However, VAT does not plan to install a temporary post in the apartment building’s courtyard. “I can guarantee he will be protected around the clock. We won’t set up an obvious post in the middle of the courtyard, but wherever the prime minister is, our officers will be there too,” Nemira said.

He assured that the security arrangements would not infringe on the privacy or freedom of movement of neighbouring residents. On the contrary, Nemira suggested that the presence of VAT officers often improves local security, reducing crime and legal violations in the area. “In fact, there are more advantages, and residents are often sorry when we leave because the overall crime situation improves,” he added.

Sinkevičius previously told 15min that he would commute daily from Jonava to Vilnius in the near future but later plans to spend some time at the Turniškės residence, while his family would likely remain in Jonava.

Nemira emphasised that the prime minister’s location does not significantly impact security operations, as protected individuals often move between different locations. “It doesn’t matter where they live. They might go to Druskininkai, Birštonas, visit relatives, or the seaside. These people lead active lives, often staying overnight in different places. We adapt and move with them as a team,” he said.

A close protection team travels with the prime minister, while VAT is only obligated to secure his family or residence if a credible threat arises. Currently, there are no indications of such a threat, but Nemira noted that security measures would scale up if the risk level increases.

Sinkevičius is not the first Lithuanian prime minister to live in an apartment. Andrius Kubilius resided in his own apartment in Vilnius during his tenure, as did Algirdas Butkevičius, who lived in a multi-storey building near Vingis Park for the first two years of his term. No additional funding for the prime minister’s security is planned at this time, according to Nemira.