On Sunday evening, border guards from the Pagėgiai Border Inspection established contact with an individual crossing the frozen Nemunas River from Kaliningrad into Lithuania. Utilizing surveillance systems, they detected the man’s crossing near the town of Panemunė. Once he crossed the border illegally, officers apprehended the 68-year-old individual, who possesses triple citizenship in Russia, Ireland, and Germany.

Following the arrest, it was confirmed that he was under investigation for illegal border crossing, an act that can lead to penalties including fines, arrest, or imprisonment for up to two years in Lithuania. The border guards initiated a pre-trial investigation into the matter, highlighting the importance of maintaining secure national borders in the region. Importantly, this incident is noted as the third case this year wherein individuals have been caught crossing the border unlawfully in the area.

After interrogation, the foreigner was released on Tuesday with a stipulation—a bail requirement that serves as a preventive measure. It was reported that two previous violations in the same year resulted from carelessness, raising questions about the motivations behind such crossings and the potential risks involved.