He said that, for reasons not depending on Russian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Lithuania Boris Tsepov, he could not take part in the events on the 1st anniversary of Luthuania's membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
Therefore, in line with the general diplomatic practice, Tsepov instructed the minister-counsellor to attend the session of the Lithuanian parliament (Seim) and the reception at the presidential palace.
Still, when the minister-counsellor arrived at the palace he and some of his colleagues from other embassies were not let in.
On Wednesday some Lithuanian mass media said that Russian ambassador to Lithuania Boris Tsepov had allegedly ignored the invitation to attend the festivities on the occasion of Lithuania's 1st anniversary of NATO membership.
It is the second scandal of its kind in Lithuania in the last 1.5 months. On February 16 security guards prevented passage to the reception on behalf of President Adamkus on the occasion of the national holiday Day of Statehood Restoration to honorary consul of Lithuania in Norway Mr. Helge S. DYRNES and his wife.
Noteworthily, two hours before President Adamkus awarded the order For Merits to Lithuania to Dyrnes and invited him to participate in the official reception. When the consul and the wife arrived at the National Opera and Ballet Theater security guards did not allow them to enter.
Not one of the presidential chancellery has assumed responsibility. Nor has Valdus Adamkus made his apology to Dyrnes.
