Lithuania found complicit in CIA torture by European Court

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled against Lithuania regarding the treatment of Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, a Saudi national accused of involvement in the USS Cole bombing. The court found Lithuania complicit in the CIA’s secret detention and torture operations during the ‘War on Terror’.

Al-Nashiri was held at a specialized CIA facility in Lithuania, referred to in internal memos as ‘Detention Site Violet’, from November 2005 to March 2006. While the Lithuanian government previously denied responsibility and contested the evidence, the ECHR concluded that the country’s involvement in hosting the black site was proven.

The ruling has sparked significant political division within Lithuania. Opposition leaders are demanding new investigations into how the country was used by American intelligence services, while the ruling coalition has shown resistance to further inquiries that might damage relations with the United States.