I spent almost a year with the most secretive Lithuanian officials: secret “contractions” do not manifest themselves until the decisive moment



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Photographer A. Didžgalvis spent several months in 2018 with officials from the Management Security Service (IAS, formerly known as VAD). With the help of a lens, the photographer allows us to investigate the daily life of this secret service.

VAT is one of the three secret services of Lithuania. The other two are VSD (we can see VSD’s photo report HERE) and STT. “VAT is the most visible, they are the only ones that can be seen together with our politicians,” says A. Didžgalvis.

The photographer says that while working in the media, he kept seeing VAT officials. “While I was working, I saw them practically every day and became interested in how everything looks from the inside,” says A. Didžgalvis.

According to him, the main job of VAT officials is to wait. “The goal of their work is constant waiting. They are always waiting: waiting for negotiations to end, waiting for threats. Their job is always to wait for everything,” says the photographer.

We invite you to see what VAT life is like in the eyes of A. Didžgalvis:

The minister fell into a trap. A few meters away, a grenade exploded. He was immediately attacked by security guards: thus begins the evacuation to the armored limousine waiting around the corner. “Nine guns, VIP wounded,” he yells into the walkie-talkies. The hunched minister is deftly removed from the scene. Nearby officers watch every corner attentively, rushing toward the cortege. Suddenly shots are fired, three black men suddenly get out of a nearby van and disarm the terrorist. It turns out that he was successfully portrayed by a training instructor, a gentle summoner of Volodya by his colleagues. This is how the routine situation, at the landfill near Vilnius, is simulated by the most mysterious force structure in our country. Fortunately, he shows his toughness only in training and competition, not in front of everyone.



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