Lithuanian Court of Appeal releases Egle Kusaite, accused of preparing terror act in Russia

Today, Egle Kusaite, a citizen of Lithuania, accused of preparing a terror act in Russia, was released from custody by the decision of the Court of Appeal of Lithuania, which found her arrest ungrounded. The decision is final and cannot be challenged; it says that Kusaite cannot be kept in custody, since the pre-trial investigation is over; and the case has been forwarded to the court.

Let us remind you that in the course of the previous session the prosecution presented records of Kusaite's telephone conversations with Tamara Magmadova, mother of Apti and Aishat Magmadov, accused of recruiting Kusaite for the terror act. Egle said that Tamara Magmadova was not on the list of the persons, with whom she had been forbidden to communicate, and asked the court to release her from custody, promising to "break links with the whole world."

As explained by Judge Albinas Belskis, who considered the complaint lodged by Kusaite and her advocate, the data presented to the court shows that by the decision of the General Prosecutor's Office of Lithuania three measures of freedom restraint were appointed to Egle Kusaite: not to leave the residence without prosecutor's permit; not to communicate with the Magmadovs, detained in Russia, and their related persons; however, Kusaite failed to follow the decision.

According to Lithuanian journalist Thomas Chivas, the Court of Appeal today has formally confirmed that Egle Kusaite had violated certain conditions of her freedom restriction measures, particularly with regard to the restriction on communication with the Magmadovs.

"However, since the case is already in the court, and there are no sufficient evidences of Kusaite's pressure on the court, as well as of her intention to hide from justice, the court has cancelled her arrest," Thomas Chivas told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"Thank you very much," said Kusaite after she heard the judge's ruling. The convoy set her free in the courtroom.

"So far, Egle has a weird status - no measure of her freedom restraint has been appointed. Now, prosecutors will think what to do next; it will be either recognizance not to leave or home arrest," said Thomas Chivas.