After 15-year search, former Snoras shareholder Antonov appears in court, to testify Tuesday

Vladimir Antonov, a former shareholder of the collapsed bank Snoras, appeared in Lithuania’s Court of Appeals on Monday as the court began substantive hearings in the criminal case against him and fellow ex-shareholder Raimundas Baranauskas, LRT reports.

Antonov was brought to Lithuania at the end of May after French courts approved his extradition. He is under heavy guard in court, restrained and escorted by six officers from the Public Security Service.

Baranauskas, the second defendant, remains at large. Prosecutors say he has been internationally wanted for 15 years, with his last known location in Russia. The court previously attempted to locate him through Russian authorities but received no response.

The Court of Appeals had postponed the case in mid-April after Antonov’s lawyer, Paulius Vinkleris, was unable to participate. Antonov was handed over to Lithuania on May 22 following a final decision by France’s highest court.

In November 2025, Vilnius Regional Court sentenced both Antonov and Baranauskas in absentia to 10.5 years in prison each. They were convicted of eight intentional crimes, including embezzlement, large-scale misappropriation, fraudulent bankruptcy, money laundering, and falsification of financial records. Antonov was also identified as the main organiser of the crimes.

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

Prosecutors allege the two misappropriated assets worth €509.18 million, causing €466.67 million in damages to Snoras and its creditors, while squandering an additional €14.5 million.

Antonov is set to testify on Tuesday after the court granted his request to speak.