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Lithuania recalling defense attache from Russia over marriage to Crimean rezident

BC, Vilnius, 20.09.2016.Print version
Lithuania's Defense Ministry on Tuesday said it was recalling Defense Attache to Russia Saulius Pikturna due to marriage to a resident of Crimea annexed by Russia, reports LETA/BNS.

"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.






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