In Court, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen Claims She Did Not Give Any Orders for Riot Suppression
Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen testified in court that she did not issue any orders regarding the suppression of riots related to an event on August 10.
During a remote court session, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, the former Speaker of the Seimas, stated that on August 10, she spent late hours at the Seimas building, leaving only after midnight around 0:30. She mentioned that she was in her office, where she had visits from the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Chief of Police, which she described as a normal practice. Throughout this time, she received periodic updates on the situation outside the Seimas.
Her testimony comes amidst an investigation into the government's actions during the riots that occurred on the same date. There are ongoing debates within the community and political circles about the appropriateness of the response by law enforcement and whether proper measures were taken to ensure public safety while maintaining order. Čmilytė-Nielsen's remarks suggest her distance from the decision-making process during these critical hours.
The implications of her statements could reverberate through the political landscape in Lithuania, especially concerning accountability and governance practices during crises. Her clarification might influence public perception and the ongoing discussions about how officials manage emergency situations, potentially leading to increased scrutiny of governmental policies regarding civil unrest.