Darius Jauniškis
Darius Jauniškis | |
|---|---|
| Director of the State Security Department of Lithuania | |
| Assumed office 14 April 2015 | |
| President | Dalia Grybauskaitė Gitanas Nauseda |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 January 1968 Vilnius, Lithuania |
| Military service | |
| Rank | Officer |
| Unit | Dignitary Protection Service (1990-1994) Special Operations Force (1995-2015) State Security Department (2015-present) |
Darius Jauniškis (born 14 January 1968) is a Lithuanian officer, serving as Director General of the State Security Department of Lithuania since 2015.
Biography
[edit]Jauniškis was born in Vilnius, Lithuania.[1] He graduated from Vilnius Pedagogical Institute in 2005 with a degree in economics, and then studied at the Baltic Defence College in Tartu in 2006 before studying at the United States Army War College in Pennsylvania, USA.[1] He then received a master's degree in strategic studies from the University of Washington.[1]
Between 1990 and 1993, Jauniškis worked in the security department of the Supreme Council – Reconstituent Seimas, and worked in several ministries between 1993 and 1995 before serving in the special purpose service of the Special Operations Forces. Between 1997 and 2006 he was the deputy commander of the SPS, and later commander between 2006 and 2008. He was then promoted to commander of the SOF between 2008 and 2015.[1] During his time as a soldier, he participated in several missions in Afghanistan.[1]
On 13 April 2015, he was appointed as the Director of the State Security Department of Lithuania, and was appointed for the role again in 2020.[1][2][3] Jauniškis has taken preventative measures against Russian espionage and activity in the country since 2015, being extremely public with statements calling for civilians to be more aware of Russian espionage attempts in the country.[4] Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Jauniškis was ranked as one of the most influential figures in Lithuania.[5] In 2023, Jauniškis stated that Belarusian espionage in Lithuania was at "an all-time high".[6] He cited the intensification in espionage was due to Russia's frustration with a longer war in Ukraine and high number of Belarusian immigrants.[7]
In March 2024, Jauniškis accused Russia of targeting Russian dissident Leonid Volkov, who was attacked in Lithuania.[8] Later that month, Jauniškis was implicated in a scandal after reports emerged of the State Security Department spying on President Gitanas Nausėda's voter base, possibly assisting him in his campaign for election.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f "Darius Jauniškis". www.vle.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ "V-85/1-7 Dėl Žvalgybos pareigūnų tarnybinių rangų suteikimo tvarkos aprašo patvirtinimo". e-seimas.lrs.lt. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ "Parliament backs Jauniskis' appointment as SSD chief for 2nd term". Delfi EN (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ "Lithuania's spyhunters". The Fiji Times. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ "Intelligence chief named Lithuania's most influential public servant". lrt.lt. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ "Belarusian KGB activity in Lithuania at 'historical high' – intelligence". lrt.lt. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ "Lithuanian intelligence chief says Belarusian expats get targeted by KGB, pose security challenges". lrt.lt. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Presse, AFP-Agence France. "Lithuania Eyes 'Russian Special Services' In Volkov Probe". www.barrons.com. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ "Intelligence chief assisted Nausėda in election campaign, president violated oath, parlt inquiry finds". Delfi EN (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 27 March 2024.