LITHUANIA PRESENTS A NOTE TO THE REPRESENTATIVE OF AUSTRIA OVER THE DECISION TO RELEASE A SUSPECT IN THE CASE OF JANUARY 13
On 18 July, Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Asta Skaisgirytė Liauškienė presented a note to Austria’s Chargé d’Affaires Josef Sigmund, requesting Austria to explain on what basis and why so hastily the decision was taken to release the suspect in the case of the events of January 13 Mikhail Golovatov, who was detained on a European Arrest Warrant.
The note expresses disappointment over such action by Austria. It also emphasizes that the European Arrest Warrant is issued by judicial authorities of the European Union and obliges another EU member state to arrest and extradite the suspect to the issuing state.
“Lithuania assesses as a particularly brutal violation of EU law Austria’s actions with regard to the implementation of European Arrest Warrant that has been issued for Mikhail Golovatov. We are concerned that Austria’s practice of trampling the EU law and principles of cooperation between the EU member states can have a negative impact on international communication in criminal cases between the EU member states in the future,” the document reads.
Austria’s Chargé d’Affaires was also presented the book entitled “Lithuania, 1991.01.13: documents, testimonies, comments”.
As of 18 July, Lithuania recalls the country’s Ambassador to Austria Giedrius Puodžiūnas for consultations in Vilnius.
In the short run, Lithuania will be raising this issue in various possible frameworks at the EU institutions.
“Lithuanian officials, the people of Lithuania and relatives of the victims of the January 13 events hope that Austria, just as other EU partners, is addressing sensitive and important issues precisely in accordance with international law. We are waiting for a convincing explanation from Austria on what grounds the decision was taken and why it was taken so hastily,” Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs commented on the decision to hand in the note.
On 15 July, Lithuanian officials were informed that on 14 July in Austria, the citizen of Russia Mikhail Golovatov, who is a suspect in the case of January 13, was arrested on the European Arrest Warrant of 18 October 2010. On 15-16 July, Friday night, Lithuania received a confirmation that the suspect was released. Austria’s motives for the decision are not yet known to Lithuania.
