Lithuanian authorities foil terror plot to assassinate two people, including pro-Ukraine activist

Lithuanian prosecutors have charged 13 individuals in connection with a foiled terror plot to assassinate two people—prominent pro-Ukraine activist Valdas Bartkevičius and a Russian citizen—LRT.lt and BNS report.

Martynas Jovaiša, senior prosecutor at Lithuania’s Organized Crime and Corruption Investigation Department, confirmed on Monday that a pre-trial investigation is underway into preparations for a “terrorist-motivated double murder”. Nine of the suspects are in Lithuania, with seven detained and two under lighter preventive measures. Two others face extradition—one already detained in Greece, where a lower court has approved his transfer to Lithuania, though an appeal remains pending.

Conviction for terrorist murder in Lithuania carries a potential life sentence, Jovaiša stated.

Deputy Police Chief Saulius Briginas described the case as part of a broader wave of “hybrid criminal acts” targeting EU states, their security interests, and individuals supporting Ukraine. He linked the plot’s objectives to “the goals of the Russian Federation”, noting that a large-scale operation had disrupted the planned killings.

The investigation began in March 2025 after the Russian target—unnamed in reports—discovered tracking devices in their vehicle. Proactive measures revealed a “real and immediate threat” to their life, Briginas said. Parallel surveillance uncovered simultaneous plans to assassinate Bartkevičius, a vocal critic of the Kremlin known for his active support of Ukraine.

On March 12, 2025, Lithuanian counterterrorism units and police arrested key suspects, including one detained near Bartkevičius’s residence. A subsequent international operation in early 2026, coordinated with authorities in Poland, Greece, and Ukraine, led to further arrests tied to the plot’s organization.

Greek media reported that a 55-year-old Georgian national was arrested in Thessaloniki in February for allegedly facilitating a €5,000 payment linked to the planned murders.