Naujienos

On Monday, 18 July, at the order of Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis, the ambassador of Austria to Lithuania will be summoned to the MFA of Lithuania and will be presented a note regarding the release of the suspect in the 13th of January case.

On 15 July, the Lithuanian officials were informed that the suspect in the 13th of January case, Russian citizen Mikhail Golovatov was arrested on 14 July in Austria on the basis of the European arrest warrant issued on 18 October 2010.

In the evening of 15 July, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs had a telephone conversation  with his Austrian counterpart Michael Spindelegger. During the conversation Minister A.Ažubalis expressed his trust that Austria would act according to the principles of international law and usual practice when making a decision regarding the extradition of the suspect to Lithuania. 

Minister A.Ažubalis reminded to his colleague that twenty years ago Lithuania had paid an enormous price for the restoration of the country's independence and highlighted that the 13th of January case and the implementation of justice are the issues of national importance.

On the night from 15 July to 16 July Lithuania received a confirmation of information that the detained suspect had been released.
"Lithuanian officials, the Lithuanian people and the relatives of the victims of the 13th of January expect that Austria, the same as the other EU partners, solve sensitive and important issues by precisely following the norms of international law. We are awaiting from Austria a convincing explanation about the arguments which led to such a decision and regarding the promptness of the decision", Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis commented on the decision to deliver a note to Austria.

Lithuania has not been so far informed about the motives for this decision by Austria. On 18 July,  the MFA of Lithuania will present a note, in which Austria will be requested to explain the decision regarding the release of the suspect in the 13th of January case.