„What we saw on Friday at the Kaunas mosque is a consequence of growing tension in society due to migration,“ the minister posted on his Facebook page on Monday.
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„Therefore, today I contacted the State Security Department to assess the situation and possible risks,“ M. Katelynas noted.
According to him, the problem is not the Lithuanian Tatars, who have been part of society for centuries and contributed to the history of the state, but the new reality of migration that the country is facing.
„In recent years, the number of foreigners arriving in Lithuania has increased sharply, and new communities are forming. The state must know who is coming to it and whether there are any threats to society and national security,“ said M. Katelynas.
He also identified as a problem religious services held in unofficial places in other cities, about the organizers of which and their compliance with laws the public lacks information.
„The state must know what is happening on its territory, where religious gatherings take place, who organizes them, and whether the established order is observed. Arrivals must respect the Lithuanian state, its laws, and the rules of our society,“ the minister stated.
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„If there are signs of radicalization, organized crime, illegal activities, or other threats, state institutions must act. Such concerns are not made up – they are supported by the experience of countries facing the consequences of uncontrolled migration,“ he added.
As BNS wrote, the Kaunas County Police announced on Monday that it had launched a pre-trial investigation into incitement against any group of people and obstruction of religious rites following the mentioned events at the mosque.
Law enforcement took these actions after a biker gathering during Muslim prayers in Ramybės Park last Friday, when they played loud music, made noise with motorcycles, chanted patriotic slogans, and displayed a pig’s head they had brought.
M. Katelynas emphasized that people have the right to protest and assemble peacefully, but „protests cannot cross the boundaries set by law,“ while the state’s respect for different cultures and religions „cannot mean the absence of rules.“
The police told BNS earlier on Monday that no charges have been filed in the investigation. Officers have identified the person holding the pig’s head, as well as some other individuals.
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