A court in Lithuania has sentenced a Ukrainian citizen to three years and four months in prison for setting fire to a store of the furniture chain "Ikea" in Vilnius, DPA reported, BTA reported.
The court found that it was proven that the man, who was still a minor at the time of the act, committed the crime in May 2024 and found him guilty of charges of preparing and committing terrorist acts.
He was also charged with illegal possession of explosives and acquiring special knowledge for the purpose of terrorism, Lithuanian media reported, citing the presiding judge.
The convict acted in the interests of the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), said Tomas Uldukis after the verdict was announced. The man told the court that he had planned other attacks in cities in Lithuania and neighboring Latvia.
The fire in the furniture store broke out on the night of May 9, 2024. According to court documents, it was caused by an explosive device that the convict had placed there the day before. The fire was discovered and contained in time, and no one was injured in the attack.
According to the prosecutor's office, the arson was committed by a terrorist organization, and the crime was ordered by the Russian secret services. The group's activities were coordinated on social networks using encrypted messages.
During the investigation into the arson in Vilnius, it was established that the perpetrators were two Ukrainian citizens. The other suspect was arrested in Poland.