Lithuania expels three Russian diplomats

Lithuania has expelled three Russian diplomats on suspicion of espionage, fueling fears that Moscow could be increasing intelligence activities here ahead of the former Soviet republic’s entry into the European Union and NATO. The Russians were expelled Feb. 20 for trying to gather information about the impeachment of Lithuanian President Rolandas Paksas "in an improper and illegal way," Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis said. He did not elaborate. Paksas has been accused of having links to Russian organized crime. Impeachment proceedings against him began last year, and a vote is expected in April. Paksas says he is innocent and has refused repeated calls to resign. The expelled diplomats, who worked at the Russian Embassy in Vilnius, are also accused of "interfering in the Lithuanian privatization process," Valionis said without providing details. Officials at the State Security Department, responsible for Lithuanian intelligence, said they had tracked the Russian diplomats for months.