VILNIUS — The American television network ABC published a report today locating the site of the alleged CIA secret prison in Antavilis (sometimes referred to as Antaviliai), a small town about 20 km outside Vilnius, in a former horseback riding facility.
The site has been suspected as one of the potential sites for nearly one month since the Lithuanian television network LNK broke the news, which was widely reported in the local media. ABC errorneously called the town Antivilia before subsequently correcting it.
An email sent to ABC by Baltic Reports asking about how the information was gathered for the “exclusive” report was not returned. ABC cited a current Lithuanian government official and a former U.S. intelligence official as sources.
According to the reports, the site could hold up to eight suspected terrorists for interrogation at a time. Details about what tactics were used against detainees are not available. The CIA has declined to confirm that it had once been a prison site.
On Oct. 23, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė ordered an investigation by the Seimas into the alleged secret sites.
“If this is true, Lithuania has to clean up, accept responsibility, apologize, and promise that it will never happen again,” Grybauskaitė said. “We cannot place Lithuania in a position, for whatever interests, where it may become a target for international terrorists. Therefore, both Lithuania and the United States must provide answers to these questions.”
The president’s office declined to comment on the ABC article Thursday, saying only that the Grybauskaitė is waiting for the results of the Seimas investigation.