A Russian intelligence network orchestrated assassination plots against opposition activists in Lithuania, with Greek authorities arresting a 55-year-old man who allegedly helped fund the operations, Lithuanian broadcaster LRT reported.
The arrest, executed under a European warrant on February 10, exposes the mechanics of hybrid warfare operations on NATO's eastern flank. The Thessaloniki resident allegedly transferred €5,000 to cover preparation costs—passport issuance and travel arrangements—for would-be assassins planning to execute two targets in Lithuania.
The intended victims were Ruslan Gabasovas, a 46-year-old Russian opposition activist who sought political asylum in Lithuania, and Valdas Bartkevičius, a Lithuanian civic activist known for anti-Russian rhetoric and vocal support for Ukraine. According to Greek media reports, the perpetrators stood to receive €40,000 upon completing the murders, with the network organizer receiving an additional €10,000.
In the Baltics, as on NATO's eastern flank, geography and history create an acute awareness of security realities. Lithuanian law enforcement prevented the assassinations in March 2025 through a coordinated police operation, demonstrating the kind of vigilance that Baltic security services maintain against Russian hybrid operations.
Gabasovas subsequently revealed he had been under surveillance and survived an assassination attempt on March 11. "Having signed commitments not to disclose information, I cannot comment otherwise," Bartkevičius told Lithuanian media, confirming his involvement in the ongoing investigation.
The case validates long-standing Baltic warnings about Russian intelligence operations targeting opposition figures and pro-Ukrainian activists on EU and NATO territory. Lithuania, along with Estonia and Latvia, has consistently highlighted the threat of Russian hybrid warfare—ranging from cyberattacks to assassination plots—since regaining independence from the Soviet Union.
The €5,000 transfer represents just the preparation phase of what appears to be a professionally organized operation. The scale of promised payments—€50,000 total to operatives and organizers—suggests significant resources behind the network, consistent with state-level intelligence operations rather than criminal enterprises.
Lithuanian authorities are now seeking the arrested man's extradition from Greece. The investigation involves at least one detainee and multiple suspects, with connections spanning Greece and what Lithuanian officials describe as a broader Russian intelligence network.
The incident underscores the evolving security environment in the Baltic region, where former Soviet republics have become both NATO members and safe havens for Russian opposition activists fleeing persecution. Lithuania has granted asylum to numerous Russian dissidents, making it a target for operations aimed at silencing Kremlin critics abroad.
The three Baltic states have consistently exceeded NATO's 2% defense spending target and called for enhanced alliance presence in the region. Cases like this assassination plot—prevented only through proactive intelligence work—reinforce Baltic arguments that the Russian threat extends beyond conventional military concerns to encompass assassination operations, cyber warfare, and disinformation campaigns on allied territory.
