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Thursday, 28.03.2024, 16:24
Lithuania recalling defense attache from Russia over marriage to Crimean rezident
"The decision on his recall has been made in response
to his plea in light of the changed family circumstances," the Lithuanian
Defense Ministry said.
Defense Minister Juozas Olekas told
journalists at the parliament on Tuesday that he had turned to the ministry's
Second Investigation Department with a request to establish all circumstances.
"We will determine everything now, we have him in
Lithuania to verify the details. I do not want to jump to any conclusions, as
the preliminary information differs," said Olekas.
In his words, Pikturna was married to a Lithuanian citizen
when he was sent to Russia.
The minister's spokesman Vaidotas Linkus told LETA/BNS that
Olekas had signed the order on Pikturna's appointment on July 18, and Pikturna
took office on Aug. 1. Pikturna married the Crimean resident on Aug. 18 and
notified the ministry of the change of his marital status on Aug. 26. The
officer was recalled for consultations on Sept. 13.
According to the brief press release from the Defense
Ministry, the decision to recall him has been harmonized with the Lithuanian
Foreign Ministry, with a notification sent to the Russian Embassy to Lithuania.
"Colonel Saulius Pikturna is being transferred to the
reserve of the Ministry of Defense. A process of selection and appointment of a
new defense attache will be started shortly," the ministry said.
According to delfi.lt news portal, Pikturna, who was
appointed to the post in Russia in August, recently married a Russian citizen
from Crimea, a holder of a Ukrainian passport who later acquired a Russian
identification document.
When managing his documents in Lithuania, Pikturna said his
wife was Ukrainian and submitted her Ukrainian passport, said delfi.lt,
however, after arrival in Moscow he said his wife did not need a visa, as she
was a Russian citizen from Crimea and had a Russian passport.