Pro-Russian activist Švenčionienė calls ambulance before court hearing

An ambulance was called for pro-Russian activist Erika Švenčionienė on Monday before a court hearing in Vilnius, where she is accused of aiding a foreign state’s actions against Lithuania, LRT reports.

Švenčionienė, who arrived at the courthouse, complained of dizziness to paramedics. After speaking with her, medical staff escorted her to an ambulance parked outside. Upon returning to the courtroom, she continued to cite health issues, according to her lawyer, Svetlana Naidenko, who stated that Švenčionienė was unable to participate in the proceedings due to her condition.

The case, presided over by Judge Mindaugas Povilanskas of the Vilnius Regional Court, was initially filed on December 8, 2023. Hearings have been held biweekly or monthly, though delays have occurred due to Švenčionienė’s reported illnesses, including a six-month hiatus at one point. The court previously sought medical confirmation of her inability to attend, after which she resumed participation.

Švenčionienė and co-defendant Kazimieras Juraitis, both former representatives of the now-dissolved “International Good Neighbourliness Forum,” face charges linked to their 2022 activities in Belarus. Prosecutors allege they participated in state-controlled media broadcasts, publicly supported authoritarian regimes, and denied the legitimacy of Lithuania’s parliament. Both also visited the controversial Astravets Nuclear Power Plant, previously deemed a security threat by Lithuanian authorities.

Švenčionienė has maintained that the forum operated legally under Lithuanian law and promoted cross-border cooperation. The charges stem partly from her and Juraitis’s public endorsement of Belarus’s 2022 referendum, which abolished presidential term limits and the country’s nuclear-neutral status.

Monday’s hearing was also attended by co-defendant Valerijus Ivanovas, while Juraitis’s testimony, begun in a prior session, remains ongoing. The court has indicated it may again request medical evaluation if Švenčionienė’s absences continue to stall proceedings.