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Lithuanian president reacts to senior police official's arrest in Belarus

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite has expressed hope that the Belarusian authorities will ensure a "prompt and impartial" investigation of the case of Lithuania's senior police official arrested at the shared border, BelaPAN reports.

Laimonas Bankauskas, head of the Vilnius mounted police force, was apprehended by officers of the Ashmyany Customhouse and the Committee for State Security (KGB) for drugs possession on August 16.

As much as 45.5 grams of amphetamine was said to have been found inside his car during an examination at the Kamenny Loh checkpoint. He has been held in a pretrial detention center in Hrodna since his arrest.

"Lithuania is interested in getting answers in connection with this detention," the BNS news agency quoted presidential aide Daiva Ulbinaite. "The president hopes that the Belarusian leadership, which is understanding the situation, will ensure a prompt and impartial inquiry."

Ms. Grybauskaite reportedly expressed hope that the incident would not harm bilateral relations. The Lithuanian president's office is following the situation, Ms. Ulbinaite said.