Konstantin Mihaylov Former riot policeman, sentenced to life imprisonment. Country: Lithuania

Former OMON officer, sentenced to life imprisonment

Konstantin Mikhailov, a former OMON officer, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in a series of murders that took place 20 years ago at the Myadyninkay customs post on the Lithuanian-Belarusian border. In July 1991, seven people, including customs officers, police officers, and local special forces, were shot and killed at the post. The investigation later revealed that the killings were carried out by Soviet OMON fighters. Mikhailov was the only one of the four suspects who was arrested and convicted. At the time of the murders, Lithuania was in a precarious position, with the Soviet Union nearing its end and the international community hesitating to recognize its independence. The Soviet authorities were reluctant to peacefully release the republic, and measures taken by the Soviet forces against Lithuania did not resolve the situation. In the spring and summer of 1991, a series of attacks were carried out on customs posts along Lithuania's borders. The posts were manned by volunteers from the "Sajudis" movement, who were unarmed at first. The attacks, carried out by Soviet OMON fighters, also targeted customs officers in neighboring Latvia. The Soviet authorities attempted to portray the incidents on the border as "clashes" between Lithuania and Belarus or as the work of "Lithuanian nationalists." However, one of the customs officers who survived a serious injury provided testimony to the investigators, refuting these claims. The attack on the Myadyninkay post, where Mikhailov was involved, resulted in the deaths of eight people. The attack was seen as a turning point, leading Lithuania to arm its border guards and provide armed resistance. The attacks eventually ceased, and Lithuania's independence was officially recognized after the failed August coup in Moscow. Mikhailov was later implicated in other criminal activities and was arrested in Latvia in 2007, where he was subsequently extradited to Lithuania. He maintained his innocence throughout the trial, but was ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment in May 2021. The Lithuanian authorities have expressed their intention to raise the issue with Russia at the EU level, although the chances of apprehending the remaining suspects, who are believed to be in Russia, are slim.