Antonov confesses to embezzling €509 million and reveals assassination attempts
Vladimir Antonov, former owner of Snoras bank, testified at Vilnius Regional Court on Tuesday, admitting to embezzling €509 million and revealing multiple assassination attempts against him.
During his testimony at the Vilnius Regional Court on Tuesday, Vladimir Antonov, the former owner of Snoras bank, admitted to embezzling €509 million from the bank's funds. He also disclosed that there have been several attempts on his life, which prompted him to hide from Lithuanian law enforcement authorities. Antonov explained that he lived in Russia during this period.
Antonov and his co-owner Raimondas Baranauskas are blamed for the bankruptcies of both Snoras bank in Lithuania and Latvijas Krājbanka in Latvia. Both financial institutions collapsed, leaving behind defrauded depositors and severe economic consequences. Antonov described the past 15 years as a "nightmare" following the collapse of Snoras. He recounted his life in Russia, where he was forced to hide out of fear for his safety.
The prosecutor's office offered Antonov a cooperation agreement, but he did not reveal further details. The court session continues to examine the case of the looting of Snoras bank, in which Antonov pleaded guilty to numerous crimes. He stated that he realized the cover had collapsed and could no longer avoid responsibility.
