A 55-year-old man suspected of orchestrating a double murder plot in Lithuania has been arrested in Thessaloniki, Greece, the Lithuanian news outlet Delfi reported.
The arrest took place on February 10 under a European arrest warrant. The Greek outlet Voria identified him as an ethnic Greek from Georgia. A court in Thessaloniki ordered his extradition to Lithuania, but he appealed the decision to Greece’s Supreme Court. He has denied the charges and said his life would be in danger if sent to Lithuania.
The suspect transferred 5,000 euros through intermediaries to finance the killings, according to investigators. Lithuanian law enforcement believes the plot targeted two people: a Russian activist who had received asylum in Lithuania and a political adviser known for his criticism of Russia. Neither has been named. The activist targeted for murder is 46 years old, Voria reported.
Seven people in total are involved in the case — citizens of Greece, Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Lithuania. The alleged hitmen were to be paid a combined 40,000 euros. The organizer was to receive 50,000 euros, according to Delfi; Voria put that figure at 10,000.
The suspects gathered information on the potential victims, surveilled them, took photographs and video, and planted a listening device in one potential victim’s car, according to Delfi. They also allegedly hacked the Russian activist’s electronic systems.
The suspects were detained on March 12, 2025. One additional suspect in the case may be in Germany; Voria described him as the key figure in the investigation.
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