"At present we are certain that the person detained in Milan is one of the suspects in the January 13 case," said Elena Martinoniene, the representative of the Office of Prosecutor General, at a press conference on Friday.
Tomas Krusna, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Criminal Prosecution Department at the Lithuanian Prosecutor General's Office, confirmed that the person was detained and the Ministry of Justice of Italy would be addressed over the extradition of the said person. Prosecutors will have 40 days for this.
The initials of the detainee were not revealed, he is suspected of actions outside the Press House and TV tower.
"He was a middle-ranking officer," said the prosecutor.
As reported, information about a person detained in Milan airport, who may be one of the suspects of the January 13 case, was received on Wednesday.
Based on preliminary data, the detained Russian citizen could be one of the suspects who, as an army officer, took part in the tragic January 13 events outside the Press House and TV tower.
Warrants for the arrest of 79 suspects in the January 13 case have been issued. The suspects are citizens of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
Over 1,000 unarmed Lithuanian civilians were injured and 14 were killed during an attempt by the Soviet army and Special Forces to take over the Vilnius TV Tower on 13 January 1991.
