„The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already drafted a note, and we also have an honorary consul who is trying to obtain confirmation through all official channels (regarding the detention – ELTA),“ Stakėnienė told LRT Radio on Thursday.
„I can confirm that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has information that two Lithuanian citizens may have been detained in Iran, but we are seeking to obtain official information so that this can be confirmed through official channels, specifically that the detention has indeed taken place,“ she emphasised.
So far, she said, it is not known why the two women might have been detained. However, according to the State Secretary, every effort will be made to provide all necessary assistance to ensure that the citizens are returned to Lithuania.
„The reasons for their possible detention are not yet known to us, but the principle that the state seeks to help all its citizens applies in all cases, so in all cases we will endeavour to provide the consular assistance that the state can offer in this situation,“ the chancellor said.
„Iran is a particularly difficult country – it is on our blocklist, where we not only advise against travelling there, but also recommend leaving as soon as possible,“ she emphasised.
As previously reported, on Tuesday it was announced that two Lithuanian women were believed to have gone missing in Iran.
The Vilnius County Chief Police Commissariat stated that the women being sought are Daiva Zakažauskaitė (born 1992) and Erika Šlimaitė (born 1983). On 7 October, they flew from Lithuania to Turkey and from there to Iran.
Their relatives have been unable to contact them since 11 October; their mobile phones are switched off, they are not logging into their social media accounts, and attempts to contact them by other means have also been unsuccessful.