VZCZCXYZ0010
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVL #0620 3231526
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191526Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY VILNIUS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3898

UNCLAS VILNIUS 000620 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PINR LH
SUBJECT: LITHUANIAN MEDIA REPEAT AMERICAN JOURNALISTS' 
REPORTING ON ALLEGED CIA PRISON 
 
REF: VILNIUS 549 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  Lithuanian media on November 19 widely repeated 
reports published online by ABC News and the Washington Post 
providing further information about a CIA prison that was 
said to exist in Lithuania from March 2004 to November 2005. 
The reports said that the likely site of the alleged prison 
was at a former riding stable in the Vilnius suburb of 
Antaviliai, a site now used by the Lithuanian security 
services.  GOL officials declined comment on the reports. 
End summary. 
 
¶2.  Lithuanian TV and online news media picked up reports by 
ABC News and the Washington Post that provided additional 
detail on what they said was a likely site for an alleged CIA 
prison for terrorist detainees.  Basic information about the 
alleged prison already had appeared (reftel) in the 
Lithuanian media, which relied on reporting by ABC News.  The 
new articles repeat allegations that the alleged prison was 
located on the grounds of a former riding stable, which they 
stated was purchased by the now-defunct American company 
Elite LLC and staffed by a rotating group of "tight-lipped" 
American guards, according to neighbors.  The articles also 
alleged that the prison was made up of "prefabricated pods" 
built inside a barn at the site, that the renovated buildings 
contained 110-volt American electric outlets, and that all 
materials used in the construction were shipped from the site 
in containers and not disposed of locally. 
 
¶3.  The Washington Post article quoted Domas Grigaliunas, 
identified as a former Lithuanian military 
counterintelligence official who claimed to be involved in 
early planning for the site.  In the article, he said, "I 
have no documents to prove it, and I never worked in any 
prisons, but I believe they existed here."  The ABC news 
article also cited an unnamed "current Lithuanian government 
official" as a source of information. 
 
¶4.  GOL officials have declined to comment to local media 
about the substance of the latest reports.  Arvydas 
Anusauskas, chairman of the Seimas (parliament) National 
Security and Defense Committee investigating whether such a 
prison existed, said only that the committee would talk to 
all officials who might have knowledge of the alleged prison. 
¶5.  Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius said, "To tell the truth, 
everything I read today in the press about foreign 
publications, I understand, was republished from what was 
told by our press."   He said he did not know the identity of 
the anonymous official cited by ABC. 
¶6.  Foreign Minister Vygaudas Usackas said the continuing 
reporting on the issue was not helping Lithuania's image. 
"There are more important things in Lithuania than spending 
two days denying gossip of ABC journalists and the shadow 
they cast on Lithuania."  He said it was important for 
Lithuania to finish its investigation in order to dispel 
rumors and know facts. 
DERSE