Roundup: Lithuanian police chief announces resignation amid accusations over police negligence

Lithuanian massive search operation launched to hunt an armed runaway detainee has resulted in both a relatively happy end with no people injured and an unexpectedly dramatic outcome with the country's minister of interior deciding to resign, as he announced on Friday.

On Thursday night, around 3,000 Lithuanian police officers were called over for a vast manhunt operation in capital Vilnius, after a detained drug addict and a small criminal managed to escape from a police car, taking with him a misplaced police Kalashnikov rifle with a full clip. The gun was left behind in the car by police.

After 5 hours of search, just before the midnight, the detainee Igor Molotkov, born in 1991, was detected hiding in the premises of one of Vilnius dormitories. Police also found the gun nearby, it was not used.

Despite the relative success of the operation, the incident triggered a harsh criticism of some Lithuanian political leaders against Saulius Skvernelis, the head of ministry of interior.

Following these remarks, Skvernelis on Friday submitted his resignation letter to prime minister Algirdas Butkevicius.

"Today, stability in the state is needed as never before; any policy of dividing the executive is beneficial only to our opponents or political forces, trampling upon the public interest values," Skvernelis was quoted as saying in his resignation letter by ELTA news agency.

"For the sake of the public interest and stability in our country and in the light of common global threats, I have made such a decision," he added.

The minister also thanked every resident of Lithuania, officer, official, and others who had expressed their support to reforms initiated by the interior ministry.

PRESIDENT'S CRITICISM

Earlier during the day, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite expressed her discontent with the activities and rhetoric of the minister.

"It is not the first time when the minister demonstrates his low political level, while trying to comment or refusing to take responsibility or not understanding the issue," Grybauskaite said in the country's seashore town Palanga where she participated in three Baltic States leaders summit on Friday.

"Minister of interior must inform all state's leaders about the situation on time and properly," she stressed.

Her remarks most probably referred to Skvernelis phone conversation with Loreta Grauziniene, Lithuanian Parliament Speaker during the police operation.

According to the media, Grauziniene called the minister on Thursday evening asking for information about the escape of a young armed man. Based on Grauziniene's remarks published by local media, after few minutes of conversation the minister said he was sleeping and going to Brussels early next morning.

"I believe the minister can't behave like this," Grauziniene was quoted as saying by the local media.

The Speaker was the first to ask for the minister's personal responsibility for the incident.

However, Skvernelis explained he was trying to end the conversation with the parliamentary Speaker as police operation was at its peak.

Grybauskaite pointed out other recent police negligence.

"During the recent week, mistakes by police officers responsible for the public security showed that many procedures must be reviewed, such as weapon use and transportation; these mistakes should not be tolerated," Grybauskaite said.

In a separate incident last week, a police officer accidentally shot a homeless person in the foot in Vilnius. The injury was not serious, however, the society questioned whether the police was prepared properly for the use of lethal weapons.

Kalashnikov automatic rifles were distributed to police officers in Lithuania in response to the threat of terror attacks in Europe following the Paris carnage.

OTHER OFFICIALS' RESPONSE

Skvernelis stressed that prime minister's office was well informed about the incident and all operations on it.

Butkevicius, the head of the government, expressed his support to Skvernelis. "Butkevicius will give his answer, yet, he expects the minister to alter his mind," the PM's spokeswoman Evelina Butkute - Lazdauskiene told ELTA.

"One must understand that the tensions back then were very high and relations with the Seimas speaker soured namely because of those tensions," she added.

The minister has opposition's backing as well. According to Conservative MP Andrius Kubilius, the parliamentary opposition leader, there are no serious reasons for minister Skvernelis to step down.

"I do not think that those reasons that we have seen so far are serious enough for the minister to leave his office," Kubilius said.

SOCIETY REACTION

Thursday's police manhunt operation was widely discussed on social networks, with some residents defending the police officers, who, according to some observers, have not been trained or paid enough to serve properly. However, other commentators were criticizing the two officers for being too careless on duty.

The incident shocked Vilnius residents as they were asked to be vigilant and careful in public places during the police operation; while their under-aged children were urged to get home as soon as possible or wait for their adult family members to accompany them.

After the minister's decision to resign, an online petition calling on him to stay at his post circulated, according to ELTA news agency.

"I oppose the resignation of Saulius Skvernelis. He is the most honest minister thus far and a former commissioner general, under whose leadership police performance has visibly risen to a new level, corruption decreased, and the police got closer to the public. We want to continue to see an honest official working for the sake of Lithuania," the petition said.

A special meeting with institutions responsible for public security will be held next Monday at the Lithuanian Presidency, the President's press service announced. Endit