Title: Secret C.I.A. Detention Center Uncovered in Lithuania Raises Questions of Complicity
In a small village on the outskirts of Vilnius, Lithuania, a mysterious enterprise unfolded nearly two decades ago, shrouded in secrecy and suspicion. What initially seemed like a renovation project for a secluded property soon revealed a darker truth – the presence of a secret C.I.A. detention and torture center.
The village of Antaviliai, once home to a horseback riding academy and a cafe, became the site of a covert operation known as Site Violet, one of three black sites established by the C.I.A. in Eastern Europe following the 9/11 attacks. Muscular young men jogging through the forest at odd hours and the sudden appearance of security fences raised eyebrows among the locals, but the true nature of the facility remained hidden.
Years of media scrutiny and judicial investigations have since confirmed the existence of Site Violet, leading to a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that Lithuania had violated human rights conventions due to its complicity in the C.I.A.’s detainee program. Despite this, official acknowledgment and accountability have been elusive, with a veil of secrecy maintained to protect Lithuania’s relationship with the United States.
The property that once housed the clandestine prison is now at the center of controversy, as it is set to be auctioned off by the state property agency. Plans to repurpose the site as a training center for the prison service have sparked outrage, given the history of abuse and torture that former detainees endured within its walls.
As the European Court continues to investigate claims of illegal detention and torture in Lithuania, questions linger about the role of the government, the handling of C.I.A. funds, and the extent of knowledge and involvement of officials. The legacy of Site Violet serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of complicity in human rights abuses and the challenges of reckoning with a dark chapter in the country’s history.
The story of Site Violet in Lithuania is a cautionary tale of the dangers of secrecy, the complexities of international alliances, and the enduring quest for truth and justice in the face of past atrocities.
