Russian Court Hands Lithuanian Citizen 12-Year Prison Sentence For Spying

April 5, 2016

Lithuanian citizen Aristidas Tamosaitis has been given a 12-year prison sentence by a Russian court which found him guilty of espionage, the Interfax news agency reported, citing local news agency BNS.

The trial took place on March 17. The details of the case were not released, as they have been classified as secret, Lithuanian Ambassador to Russia Remigijus Motuzas told the news agency.

The ambassador added that the man's lawyers plan to appeal the court decision.

Tamosaitis was detained by the Federal Security Service on May 19, 2015 in Moscow, while allegedly attempting to “gain access to private materials, affecting the interests of the Russian Federation.”

He later admitted his guilt and said he was a Lithuanian intelligence officer, Interfax reported.

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