„World Press Photo“ paroda. Apsilankykite
Bilietai
2012 03 29

Lithuania issues arrest warrants for ex-Vilnius OMON commanders suspected in 1991 crimes

Lithuania's Prosecutor General's Office issued European arrest warrants for former Vilnius OMON commanders Boleslav Makutynovich and Vladimir Razvodov, accused of crimes against Lithuania in 1991. The warrants were signed on Thursday.
Bėgimu pagerbti žuvusieji už Lietuvos laisvę 1991-ųjų sausio 13-ąją
Commemoration of 13 January 1990 events. / Andriaus Ufarto/BFL nuotr.

Lithuanian prosecutors accuse them of crimes against humanity and war crimes with no statute of limitations. Both suspects are Russian citizens. Moscow has refused to hand them over to Lithuania.

The former OMON commanders are accused of "large-scale systematic attacks, murder of civilians and harm inflicted to their health as part of state policy" and "of torture and other inhumane acts against people protected by international humanitarian law."

The charges were re-qualified last December, and the search for the suspects was launched in February.

According to the Lithuanian Prosecutor General's Office, earlier in March Vilnius Regional Prosecutor's Office sent a request for legal assistance to Russian law enforcement institutions, asking for help identify the suspects' whereabouts.

Representatives of the Prosecutor General's Office told BNS earlier, that Makutynovich and Razvodov are charged with actions against Lithuania commited 11 January 1991 to 25 August 1991.

14 people were killed during an attempt by the Soviet army and special forces to take over the Vilnius TV Tower on 13 January 1991, and more than 1,000 unarmed civilians were injured. 23 people have been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity in the case, including 21 Russian citizens. Moscow has refused to hand them over to Lithuania.

On 31 July of the same year, seven Lithuanian police officers and border guards were killed at the Medininkai check-point.

Vytautas Landsbergis, who was then head of state, warned at the time that OMON officers would attack state institutions and "carry out terror policy and terror practice in Lithuania."

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