December 23, 2009 Lithuanian Government made a decision on withdrawal of its Ambassador Mechis Laurinkus from Georgia following Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite’s appeal.

Presently, the decision is sent for President’s approval. On signature, the diplomat will be relased from office starting January 29, 2010, ELTA agency reports.

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite demanded the Ambassador’s resignation in mid December accusing him of politicking. According to her, the officials should behave more professionally.

Mechis Laurinkus was the head of Lithuanian State Security Department from 1990-to 1991 and 1998-2004. He was Lithuanian Ambassador to Spain up to 2008 and continued service in Georgia.

On December 11, 2009 the diplomat officially confirmed the possibility of a secret CIA prison presence in Lithuania. According to him, in spring 2003 he personally spoke to the former President Rolandas Paksas about the possibility of terrorism-suspected people smuggling to Lithuania.

L.A.