Lithuanian prosecutors to ask court to arrest Russian bank governor for 2 months

"We will ask to sanction the Russian citizen's arrest for two months, and the arrest of the association's director general for 20 days," Renata Endruzyte, spokeswoman for the Special Investigation, told BNS Lithuania.

In her words, decisions on another suspect in the case are pending. The person is named by law enforcement as an employee of one foreign company's Lithuanian branch, without disclosing the person's identity.

Arrest decisions will be made by Vilnius City District Court.

Sidlauskas is suspected to have promised to use his previous long-standing diplomatic service to influence people for Nasirov to be issued a Schengen visa. Sources told BNS Lithuania that a Lithuanian institution issued Nasirov the visa in March.

Since Lithuania regained independence, Sidlauskas worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, holding various positions, and was a long-standing head of the ministry's Consular Department.

He also served as Lithuania's ambassador to Canada and was also the country's ambassador to Russia in 2002-2008.

He's been head of the ALCCIC since 2009.

On Friday, the ALCCIC will decide on Sidlauskas' suspension.

Nasirov is the owner of the small Novy Promyshleny Bank together with his sister.

According to Russian media reports, the Russian central bank suspended the license of the Novy Promyshleny Bank, one of the smallest commercial banks in the country in terms of assets, in February, 2018 due to numerous violations of requirements on the prevention of money laundering and terrorism funding.