Public Security Service Viešojo saugumo tarnyba | |
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Abbreviation | VST |
Agency overview | |
Formed | 18 October 1991 |
Jurisdictional structure | |
Operations jurisdiction | Lithuania |
Governing body | Ministry of the Interior |
Constituting instrument |
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Operational structure | |
Headquarters | M. K. Paco str. 4, 10309 Vilnius |
Website | |
vstarnyba |
The Public Security Service or VST (Lithuanian: Viešojo saugumo tarnyba) is a Lithuanian law enforcement agency under the Ministry of the Interior. It is primarily involved in restoring the public order and serving as the main riot police force equipped for riot control as well as critical infrastructure protection.[1][2]
VST is a partner of the European Gendarmerie Force.[3] Similarly to gendarmeries in other states, VST is a paramilitary organization which has greater combat capability than the regular police. During the state of war, VST becomes directly subordinate to the Lithuanian Armed Forces.[4]