State Security Department of Lithuania


The State Security Department or VSD is a Lithuanian national security agency which collects information on threats to Lithuania's sovereignty and works to eliminate those threats. The VSD also conducts counterintelligence, protects state secrets and classified information, and vets applicants for residence in or entry to Lithuania. The department was established on 26 March 1990, two weeks after Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union. At the time, the department was also responsible for certain aspects of law enforcement, provide protection to state officials and strategic objects, ensure integrity of state communications network, investigate political corruption. Other agencies took over these extra duties and, during 2010, the mission of VSD was clarified to mainly focus on intelligence and counterintelligence.

Directors