Public Security Service (Lithuania)

Public Security Service
*Viešojo saugumo tarnyba*
Public Security Service; Viešojo saugumo tarnyba
Abbreviation	VST
Agency overview
Formed	18 October 1991
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	Lithuania
Governing body	Ministry of the Interior
Constituting instrument	Law on the Public Security Service 2006;
Operational structure
Headquarters	M. K. Paco str. 4, 10309 Vilnius
Website
	vstarnyba.lrv.lt/en

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]

^ "Lithuania - Public Security Service". OECD. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
^ "Law on the Public Security Service". Office of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. 19 September 2006. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
^ "Viešojo Saugumo Tarnyba – Partner Member". European Gendarmerie Force. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
^ "Viešojo saugumo tarnyba". Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 11 August 2021.