Belarus arrests Lithuanian spies

Moscow, July 13 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Former Soviet state Belarus has said it has detained a Lithuanian military intelligence officer and his local agents for spying.

Belarus' State Security Committee said the Belarusian agents admitted to cooperating with the Lithuanian special services after they were caught red handed.

Electronic media, as well as other spying equipment was seized from them.

The committee said the suspects had collected top secret military information, including data relating to the security system of Russia and Belarus, to pass on to the Lithuanian authorities.

The "timely interference" by the committee "made it possible to reveal the plans of foreign intelligence, take its activities under control and prevent serious damage to the state's defence capability and security", it said.

Criminal proceedings have been launched against the detainees on suspicion of treason. They face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

The Lithuanian foreign ministry rejected the report as "an insinuation".

The information is not true, foreign ministry spokesman Mindaugas Lasas said.

"Such insinuations of the neighbouring country's special services do not contribute to improvement of bilateral relations", he said.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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