„There are 4–5 groups in Lithuania (some individuals are involved in several groups), whose representatives are guided by the ideas of the „sovereigns“ movement, which promotes anti-state extremism. More than 500 people in Lithuania likely identify themselves as „sovereigns“,“ says the document prepared by the Department of State Security (VSD) and the Second Operational Services Department (AOTD).
The intelligence service recalls that the „sovereigns“ movement started to gain popularity in Lithuania during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, the ideas promoted by this movement became more popular because they created the illusion that by becoming a „sovereign“ and renouncing the responsibilities of a citizen, the restrictions of the pandemic could be avoided.
Leaders of „sovereign“ groups in Lithuania are actively implementing the ideas of „sovereigns“, promoting them on social networks and bringing them into conflict with state institutions. On social networks, „sovereigns“ demonstrate how they are breaking ties with Lithuanian institutions, trying to use their own documents and plates instead of license plates, and carrying out paper terrorism against the institutions. Some „sovereigns“ in Lithuania are characterised by aggressive rhetoric and tend not to comply with the legitimate demands of police officers,“ the assessment of threats to national security says.
According to intelligence data, some „sovereigns“ in Lithuania have a favourable view of the Soviet Union and are ideologically sympathetic to the Russian and Belarusian regimes. According to the VSD and the AOTD documents, the „sovereigns“ identify themselves as citizens of the LTSR, refer to the Soviet Union as a „real“ state, and consider the states that regained independence after its collapse, including Lithuania, as „illegitimate corporations of Washington.“
The intelligence agency said these beliefs would inevitably make the „sovereigns“ the object of manipulation by states hostile to Lithuania.
The VSD and the AOTD predict that the number of „sovereigns“ is unlikely to increase shortly and that they will gain influence over Lithuania's social processes. At the same time, however, the Intelligence Service maintains that conflicts between these groups of individuals and state institutions will be expected soon.
The assessment of threats to national security states, „It is highly probable that conflicts between aggressive 'sovereigns' and state institutions and police officers will arise in Lithuania in the near and medium term.“
ELTA recalls that a criminal case is currently pending before the Kaunas Regional Court in which Mindaugas and Inga Vilčinskai are accused of kidnapping their children and attempting to cross the state border illegally.
According to the case, in July last year, Vilčinskai abducted their minor children from the child welfare centre Pastogė in Kaunas. Border guards later detained the Vilčinskas and their children near the Belarusian border. According to law enforcement authorities, the parents tried to flee to Belarus after abducting their children.
As previously reported by the VSD, Mr and Mrs Vilčinskai, who abducted their children in Kaunas, identify themselves as part of the „sovereigntist“ movement.
