The main mission of the State Security Department is to supply decision-makers in Lithuania with the information that would enable them to make sound decisions concerning future actions in the political and social spheres of the country’s life.

The character of such information may vary greatly. Depending on particular circumstances it may concern a wide variety of problems ranging from aggressive plans and intentions of foreign governments that are hostile to Lithuania to the spread of dangerous contagious diseases. However, the State Security Department usually collects and provides information related to risks and threats to national security.

The aforementioned role of the State Security Department is defined by the Law on Intelligence, which assigns the mission to neutralize threats to national security to our institution too. It is authorized to take action against threats individually or in cooperation with law enforcement authorities.

The State Security Department focuses on long-term priorities of preserving the sovereignty, inviolability and integrity of the territory and constitutional order of the state of Lithuania as well as its defensive and economic power, energy security, information and cyber security. Our institution also ensures the protection of classified information in Lithuania.

All the activities carried out by the State Security Department fall under the general definition of intelligence and the information obtained is called intelligence information. For specification purposes the field of intelligence is classified distinguishing between:

  • Intelligence – collection, analysis and provision of information concerning external threats to national security.
  • Counterintelligence – collection, analysis and provision of information concerning internal threats to national security and their neutralization. A significant part of counterintelligence activity consists of monitoring hostile actions of foreign intelligence and security services in Lithuania and neutralizing threats posed by these actions. Counterintelligence also encompasses protection of classified information. The State Security Department is the main counterintelligence institution in Lithuania with an extensive experience in preventing hostile behaviour of foreign intelligence and security services.

The State Security Department uses all intelligence collection means and methods that are provided by law. The application of some of them is secret, thus it distinguishes intelligence collection from scientific research, investigative journalism and other types of research, the methodologies of which are disclosed and open to public criticism. The State Security Department must protect the secrecy of its methods and tactics primarily in order to prevent hostile intelligence and security services as well as criminal organizations from undermining the investigations carried out.

Objectives of the State Security Department:

  • To carry out intelligence and counter-intelligence, to investigate, analyze and forecast social, political and economic processes related to threats to national security.
  • To timely reveal actions that pose threats to security and sovereignty of the state, its inviolability and integrity of the territory, constitutional order and interests as well as its defensive and economic power.
  • To prevent such threats and eliminate them in accordance with the law.
  • To coordinate actions of Lithuanian authorities in the fight against terrorism.
  • To provide intelligence and counterintelligence information, as well as conclusions and recommendations to the Seimas, the President of the Republic, the Government and other state institutions.
  • To provide public information to society.

In carrying out intelligence activities the State Security Department cooperates with other state institutions in Lithuania and partners abroad – intelligence and security services of other countries.

The State Security Department is the only civilian intelligence service in Lithuania. Military intelligence and counterintelligence is carried out by the Second Investigation Department under the Ministry of National Defence.