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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 53)
Bern, Switzerland
SpouseOlga Paleckienė
Alma materVilnius University

Algirdas Paleckis (born 20 May 1971) is a Lithuanian diplomat, politician, columnist, leader of the political movement The Dawn of Justice.[1] Šiauliai district court convicted Paleckis for spying for Russia in July 2021. The conviction was upheld by the Lithuanian Court of Appeal in May 2022.[2]

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[3] 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.

According to investigation by the State Security Department of Lithuania, 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.[4]

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

Criminal prosecution

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Denial of Soviet aggression against Lithuania

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In 2011, Lithuanian authorities prosecuted Paleckis for his denial of Soviet aggression against Lithuania.[5] As part of his journalistic research, Paleckis claimed he had found several witnesses and ballistic assessments that seemed to indicate that there were Lithuanian government snipers on the roof near the Vilnius TV centre who were shooting civilians with hunting rifles during the January Events. He stated that "it appears that in January 1991 our own people were shooting at their natives". He also alleged that these snipers were placed there by the Lithuanian government of the time to generate nationalist sympathy. A Vilnius court vindicated Paleckis in January 2012, but the prosecution appealed and Paleckis was sentenced to a fine of 10,400 litas (€3,100) on 12 June 2012.[6]

His father Justas Vincas Paleckis said he is "shocked" by his son's statements and that lately they're finding less and less common ground.[7]

As of early 2024 he is being tried again for public approval of international crimes, after he gave a phone interview claiming that the Russian invasion of Ukraine happened because of the "U.S. desire to squeeze it like a lemon". The prosecutor also states there is enough data to state that Paleckis was defaming the post-war period of Lithuanian partisan armed resistance against the USSR.[8]

Spying for Russia

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He was arrested again in 2018 on suspicion of spying for Russia.[9][10][11] 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.[12] On 27 July 2021, Šiauliai district court found Paleckis guilty and sentenced him to six years in prison.[13] The conviction was upheld by the Lithuanian Court of Appeal on 6 May 2022.[2] The Supreme Court of Lithuania confirmed his sentence, although shortening it to 5 years and 6 months in prison.[14]

Political views

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Paleckis is no longer affiliated with any political party. He was last a member of the Socialist People's Front, a democratic socialist political party. It was formed from a merger of the Lithuanian Socialist Party and his Front Party.[15] He left the party in 2016, citing differences with party leadership.[16]

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."[17]

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."[17]

Awards and honors

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Bibliography

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

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[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
TS–LKD Monika Navickienė 7,401 53.21
Independent Algirdas Paleckis 6,509 46.79
Total votes 13,910 100.00

References

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  1. ^ "Members of the Seimas - Algirdas PALECKIS".
  2. ^ a b "Paleckis dėl šnipinėjimo Rusijai lieka nuteistas šešerius metus kalėti". LRT (in Lithuanian). 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Mr Algirdas PALECKIS". Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  4. ^ Antanavičius, Ugnius (9 May 2018). "„MG Baltic" įtaka socdemams pagal VSD: ryšiai su A. Paleckiu, kova prieš G. Palucką". LRT (in Lithuanian).
  5. ^ "Lithuanian former journalist says country tried to deny speech, send him to prison".
  6. ^ "Algirdas Paleckis found guilty of denying Soviet aggression". 15min. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  7. ^ "MEP Justas Vincas Paleckis claims he is shocked about his son's claims about January 13". 11 January 2011.
  8. ^ "Paleckis, imprisoned for spying for Russia, is being tried again". 26 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Lithuania Arrests Several Citizens Suspected Of Spying For Russia". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  10. ^ "Suspected Russian spy network found; Lithuania due to finish the case this year". lrt.lt. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "Former politician accused of spying for Russia to be released on bail". 7 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Lithuanian Court Sends Politician To Six Years In Prison For Spying For Russia". Radio Free Europe. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Supreme Court: A. Paleckis remains sentenced for spying for Russia, conviction shortened by half a year". 23 June 2023.
  15. ^ "„Socialistinis liaudies frontas" registruotas kaip politinė partija". 15min. Retrieved 4 February 2024. (in Lithuanian)
  16. ^ "Algirdas Paleckis palieka „Frontą"". 15min. Retrieved 4 February 2024. (in Lithuanian)
  17. ^ a b "13 A.Paleckio citatų ne tik apie sausio 13-ąją: kaip proeuropietiškas politikas virto prorusišku". 15min. Retrieved 4 February 2024. (in Lithuanian)
  18. ^ a b Iškauskas, Česlovas (13 February 2016). "Č. Iškauskas. Jie laisvina Baltijos šalis". Delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  19. ^ "Литовского политика лишили ордена за "отрицание агрессии CCCР"". Delfi.lt (in Russian). 8 March 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  20. ^ "2016 m. Seimo rinkimų rezultatai - VRK.lt".
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