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Algirdas Paleckis

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Algirdas Paleckis
Algirdas Paleckis at the National Press Club in 2012
Personal details
Born (1971-05-20) 20 May 1971 (age 54)
Bern, Switzerland
SpouseOlga Paleckienė
Alma materVilnius University

Algirdas Paleckis (born 20 May 1971) is a Lithuanian politician, former diplomat and a public figure. Šiauliai district court convicted Paleckis for spying for Russia in July 2021. The conviction was upheld by the Supreme Court of Lithuania in 2023.[1]

Biography

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Algirdas Paleckis was born on 20 May 1971, in Bern, Switzerland, the son of Soviet diplomat Justas Vincas Paleckis. His grandfather was Justas Paleckis, a journalist and a foreign correspondent in 1930s who later became a communist and the speaker of the Supreme Soviet of Lithuanian SSR following the Soviet occupation.

In 1994, Paleckis graduated from Vilnius University with a master's degree in journalism and international relations.

Career

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From 1997 to 2001, Paleckis was the 1st secretary at Lithuania's Permanent Mission to the EU in Brussels, becoming head of the West European Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania in 2001, a post in which he remained until 2003. From 15 November 2004, to 17 April 2007, he was a member of the Lithuanian Parliament. Later, Paleckis was an assemblyman of the Council of Europe from 24 January 2005 to 5 May 2007[2] and worked as a Vice-Mayor of Vilnius from 2007 to 2008. In 2008 he founded the Front Party and was its leader until November 2014.

In the 2018 report to the parliamentary committee, the State Security Department of Lithuania implied that during 2006—2008 Paleckis was supported by the business group MG Baltic, led by Darius Mockus, throughout his political career and maintained ties with the group even after the establishment of the Front Party in 2008.[3]

He is fluent in Lithuanian, English, French, Russian and German.

Criminal prosecution

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Denial of Soviet crimes against Lithuania

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In 2011, Lithuanian authorities prosecuted Paleckis for his public denial of the Soviet aggression during the 1991 January Events in Lithuania.[4] Paleckis claimed that he conducted a journalistic research and found several witnesses as well as ballistic assessments that indicated that there were Lithuanian government snipers on the roof near the Vilnius TV centre who were shooting civilians with hunting rifles. He stated that "it appears that in January 1991 our own people were shooting at their natives".[citation needed] In January 2012, 1st District Court of Vilnius City initially vindicated Paleckis, but following the appeal by the prosecution, the higher Vilnius Regional Court overturned the decision and Paleckis was sentenced to a fine of 10,400 litas (€3,100) on 12 June 2012.[5][6] On 23 January 2013, the Supreme Court of Lithuania made a final decision upholding the conviction.[7]

In January 2011, following the public statements by Algirdas Paleckis, his brother Rimvydas Paleckis publicly apologized to the relatives of the January Events victims.[8] Rimvydas Paleckis, who actually worked as a journalist during 13 January 1991, said "I saw with my own eyes how people died near the [TV] tower" and described his brother's statements as "delusional".[8] His father Justas Vincas Paleckis said he was "shocked" by his son's statements and said that lately they are finding less and less common ground.[9]

Defamation case

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In 2024, Paleckis was prosecuted for defamation of Lithuanian partisans and the former Minister of Defence Laurynas Kasčiūnas, whom he described as a Nazi.[10] While in prison, he gave an interview in which he belittled Lithuanian resistance to the Soviet occupation and justified the Soviet Union, criticized the role of the United States in the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Lithuanian foreign policy.[10] In November 2024, Kaunas District Court acquitted Paleckis of charges for defamation of Lithuanian partisans, but convicted him for defamation of Kasčiūnas.[11] The court sentenced Paleckis to additional three months in prison.[11]

Spying for Russia

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He was arrested again in 2018 on suspicion of spying for Russia.[12][13][14] The Lithuanian authorities argued against granting bail on the grounds that Paleckis had lived in Moscow, had connections there and could flee from the country. Paleckis was released on supervision in April 2020.[15] On 27 July 2021, Šiauliai district court found Paleckis guilty preparing to commit the crime of espionage and sentenced him to six years in prison.[16] The conviction was upheld by the Lithuanian Court of Appeal on 6 May 2022.[17] In June 2023, the Supreme Court of Lithuania made a final ruling confirming his sentence, although shortening it to 5 years and 6 months in prison.[1]

Political views

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Paleckis is no longer affiliated with any political party. In 2008, he founded a far-left Front Party which, after a merger with the Lithuanian Socialist Party, became Socialist People's Front.[18] The party was never elected into the parliament. He left the party in 2016, citing differences with party leadership.[19]

Paleckis is critical of Lithuanian capitalism, writing in 2018, "they promised us Sweden, but the banana republic came out. I will add: only instead of dictators – clowns."[20]

Russia

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On 15 March 2005, Paleckis worried that democracy was failing in Russia, stating, "Russia during this period lost its way a little because of the track and was a little tempted by authoritarian rule. They must be returned before it is too late."[20]

Electoral history

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2016 Lithuanian parliamentary election

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Single-member constituency of Naujoji Vilnia
Second round voting, 23 October 2016[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
TS–LKD Monika Navickienė 7,401 53.21
Independent Algirdas Paleckis 6,509 46.79
Total votes 13,910 100.00

Awards and honors

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In 2004, Paleckis was awarded the Knight of the Order for Merits to Lithuania.[22] In 2013, following Paleckis' conviction, President Dalia Grybauskaitė formally stripped his award.[23]

Works

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  • Antrankiai minčiai ("Handcuffs for Mind"). Auth. Algirdas Paleckis. Vilnius, 2021. ISBN 978-609-475-702-0

References

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  1. ^ a b "Aukščiausiasis Teismas: Paleckis lieka nuteistas už šnipinėjimą Rusijai, laisvės atėmimo bausmė sutrumpinta pusmečiu" [Supreme Court: A. Paleckis remains sentenced for spying for Russia, conviction shortened by half a year]. Delfi (in Lithuanian). 23 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  2. ^ "Mr Algirdas PALECKIS". Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  3. ^ Antanavičius, Ugnius (9 May 2018). ""MG Baltic" įtaka socdemams pagal VSD: ryšiai su A. Paleckiu, kova prieš G. Palucką". LRT (in Lithuanian).
  4. ^ "A.Paleckio baudžiamąją bylą prokurorai perduoda teismui" [Prosecutors hand over A. Paleckis' criminal case to court]. Lrytas (in Lithuanian). 12 January 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Algirdas Paleckis found guilty of denying Soviet aggression". 15min. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  6. ^ "Teismas paskelbė, kad Algirdas Paleckis nepagrįstai išteisintas baudžiamojoje byloje dėl Sausio 13-osios nusikaltimų neigimo". 15min (in Lithuanian). 12 June 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  7. ^ "Lietuvos Aukščiausiasis Teismas nuteisė A. Paleckį dėl sovietų agresijos neigimo" [The Supreme Court of Lithuania convicted A. Paleckis for denying Soviet aggression]. LRT (in Lithuanian). 23 January 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Artimieji atsiprašo dėl A. Paleckio pasisakymų apie Sausio 13-ąją". Bernardinai. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  9. ^ "MEP Justas Vincas Paleckis claims he is shocked about his son's claims about January 13". 11 January 2011.
  10. ^ a b "Paleckis, imprisoned for spying for Russia, is being tried again". 26 January 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Paleckis nuteistas dėl Kasčiūno šmeižto, dėl partizanų niekinimo – išteisintas". LRT. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  12. ^ "Lithuania Arrests Several Citizens Suspected Of Spying For Russia". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  13. ^ "Suspected Russian spy network found; Lithuania due to finish the case this year". lrt.lt. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  14. ^ "Lithuanian spy case recalls Soviet-era practices". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 18 June 2020. The Lithuanian news portal lrytas.lt reported that Paleckis has been involved in gathering information — including private details — on investigators and prosecutors who are working on the so-called January 13 case that is addressing the bloody events of 1991, when 14 civilians were killed by Soviet forces who were trying to crush the pro-independence movement.
  15. ^ "Former politician accused of spying for Russia to be released on bail". 7 April 2020.
  16. ^ "Lithuanian Court Sends Politician To Six Years In Prison For Spying For Russia". Radio Free Europe. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Paleckis dėl šnipinėjimo Rusijai lieka nuteistas šešerius metus kalėti". LRT (in Lithuanian). 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  18. ^ ""Socialistinis liaudies frontas" registruotas kaip politinė partija". 15min. Retrieved 4 February 2024. (in Lithuanian)
  19. ^ "Algirdas Paleckis palieka "Frontą"". 15min (in Lithuanian). 21 January 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  20. ^ a b "13 A.Paleckio citatų ne tik apie sausio 13-ąją: kaip proeuropietiškas politikas virto prorusišku". 15min. Retrieved 4 February 2024. (in Lithuanian)
  21. ^ "2016 m. Seimo rinkimų rezultatai – VRK.lt".
  22. ^ a b Iškauskas, Česlovas (13 February 2016). "Č. Iškauskas. Jie laisvina Baltijos šalis". Delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  23. ^ "Iš A. Paleckio atimtas valstybės apdovanojimas". Kauno Diena. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
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