Ombudsmen investigate police warnings to protest organisers

Lithuania’s parliamentary and intelligence ombudsmen are investigating preventive warnings police issued to organisers of a counter-protest against migration policy in Vilnius, LRT.lt reported.

Several organisers of the October “Against Racism” protest suspect they were monitored. They said police visits to their homes frightened them, but they did not know why they had attracted attention. Police said they had information about people who might cause provocations.

At least several people involved in organising the protest were visited by officers. The demonstration, organised by several groups, was a response to a protest against migration held by the National Alliance.

One of those visited was Emil Starodubov, head of the May 1 Trade Union. Officers came to his home on the eve of the protest. “They said they could not comment further, that their duty was to pass [the information on] … They said, ‘Perhaps you have been very active in the public sphere,’” Starodubov recalled.

After the visits were reported, the intelligence ombudsman and parliamentary ombudsman began investigations. It is not known whether the State Security Department actually collected information about the protesters.

Intelligence Ombudsman Vytautas Valentinavičius launched an investigation on his own initiative. His office told BNS on Monday that it would assess whether the State Security Department’s collection, processing and transfer to police of information related to the protest was lawful and proportionate, and whether personal data protection requirements were followed.

Parliamentary Ombudsman Erika Leonaitė told BNS her office had received four complaints. It will examine the procedures and grounds for issuing the warnings and whether the preventive measure was applied properly, she said.

Leonaitė said it was unclear how police selected the people who received official warnings about conduct deemed unacceptable and contrary to the interests of society or its members. She also questioned whether the recipients had been placed in risk groups and, if so, under what criteria.

Leonaitė had previously investigated the police procedure for issuing official warnings and found that it was not public. She recommended publishing the procedure and introducing safeguards against misuse. Under the procedure, officers should explain before issuing a warning which actions are considered potentially dangerous or contrary to the public interest, and give the person a chance to present their position. The current investigation will examine how this was handled in practice, she said.

The news outlet Delfi reported on Monday that official warnings were issued on October 2 to organisers of the “Demonstration Against Racism” counter-protest, which was due to take place in Vilnius the following day. The warnings concerned conduct deemed unacceptable and contrary to the interests of society or its members.