The State Security Department or VSD ( lt, Valstybės saugumo departamentas) is a Lithuanian

intelligence agency An intelligence agency is a government agency responsible for the collection, analysis, and exploitation of information in support of law enforcement, national security, military, public safety, and foreign policy objectives. Means of informa ...

which collects information on threats to the national security and works to eliminate those threats. The VSD also conducts

counterintelligence Counterintelligence is an activity aimed at protecting an agency's intelligence program from an opposition's intelligence service. It includes gathering information and conducting activities to prevent espionage, sabotage, assassinations or ...

, protects state secrets and

classified information Classified information is material that a government body deems to be sensitive information that must be protected. Access is restricted by law or regulation to particular groups of people with the necessary security clearance and need to kn ...

, and vets certain applicants for residence permits or entry to Lithuania.

History

The origins of the institution are in the ''Intelligence Unit'' established within the

Lithuanian Armed Forces The Lithuanian Armed Forces () are the military of Lithuania. The Lithuanian Armed Forces consist of the Lithuanian Land Forces, the Lithuanian Naval Force and the Lithuanian Air Force. In wartime, the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service ( ...

on 27 October 1918. The first head of the intelligence service was Jonas Žilinskas. In 1923, many intelligence activities were transferred to the

Ministry of the Interior An interior ministry (sometimes called a ministry of internal affairs or ministry of home affairs) is a government department that is responsible for internal affairs. Lists of current ministries of internal affairs Named "ministry" * Ministr ...

and the institution changed its name over the time. In 1933 it was re-organized into the ''State Security Department'' with the objective to suppress espionage activities. The last director of the service in the interwar period was

Augustinas Povilaitis Augustinas Povilaitis (24 February 1900 in Pašventys, Jurbarkas district – 12 July 1941 in Moscow) was a captain of the Lithuanian Army and Director of the State Security Department of Lithuania. Together with Minister of the Interior Kazys ...

. In the aftermath of the Soviet invasion and occupation in 1940, he was arrested and executed by the Soviets. The department was reestablished on 26 March 1990. At that time, the department was also responsible for certain aspects of law enforcement: providing protection to state officials and strategic objects, ensuring integrity of state communications network, investigating political corruption. Other agencies took over these extra duties and, during 2010, the mission of VSD was clarified to mainly focus on intelligence and

Directors

* Mečys Laurinkus (26 March 1990 – 19 March 1991) *

Viktoras Zedelis Viktoras is a Lithuanian masculine given name. It is a cognate of the English name Victor and may refer to: People *Viktoras Andriušis (1908–1967), Lithuanian artist and designer *Viktoras Biržiška (1886–1964), Lithuanian mathematician a ...

(acting) *

Zigmas Vaišvila Zigmas Vaišvila (born 20 December 1956 in Šiauliai) is a Lithuanian politician. In 1990 he was among those who signed the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania The Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania or Ac ...

(27 September 1991 – 19 March 1992) * Balys Gajauskas (22 April 1992 – 11 August 1992) * Petras Plumpa (11 August 1992 – 4 January 1993) *

Jurgis Jurgelis Jurgis Jurgelis (born 9 August 1942 in Šiauliai, ''Generalbezirk Litauen'', ''Reichskommissariat Ostland'') is a mathematics teacher, politician, and signatory of the 1990 Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania The Act of the ...

(4 January 1993 – 3 June 1998) * Mečys Laurinkus (2nd time, 3 June 1998 – 30 April 2004) *

Arvydas Pocius Lieutenant General Arvydas Pocius (born 14 May 1957) is a former Chief of Defence of Lithuania. During his military career, Pocius has held various positions, including Chief of Staff of Voluntary Service of National Defence, and Commander of the ...

(30 April 2004 – 12 June 2007) *

Povilas Malakauskas Povilas is a Lithuanian masculine given name and may refer to: * Povilas Aksomaitis (1938–2004), Lithuanian engineer, politician, and signatory of the 1990 Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania *Povilas Budrys (born 1962), Lithua ...

(12 June 2007 – 28 December 2009) *

Romualdas Vaišnoras Romualdas is a Lithuanian masculine given name. List of people named Romualdas * Romualdas Aleliūnas (born 1960), Lithuanian designer of ceramics *Romualdas Brazauskas (born 1960), Lithuanian basketball referee *Romualdas Granauskas (1939-2014), ...

(acting) *

Gediminas Grina Gediminas Grina (born 5 May 1965) is a Lithuanian political military commander who was the Director General of the State Security Department of Lithuania in 2010–2015. He is currently a Lieutenant Colonel of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Biograp ...

(9 April 2010 – 13 April 2015) *

Darius Jauniškis Darius may refer to: Persian royalty ;Kings of the Achaemenid Empire * Darius I (the Great, 550 to 487 BC) * Darius II (423 to 404 BC) * Darius III (Codomannus, 380 to 330 BC) ;Crown princes * Darius (son of Xerxes I), crown prince of Persia, m ...

(14 April 2015 – present)

References

External links

Intelligence agencies Counterintelligence agencies Law enforcement agencies of Lithuania 1990 establishments in Lithuania Government agencies established in 1990 {{Lithuania-stub

History

Directors

See also

References

External links