"He has been recalled as attache as of today (September 23). Starting from tomorrow, he is being transferred to the Lithuanian military reserve," Lithuanian Defence Minister Juozas Olekas told BNS.

Pikturna last week was asked to return to Lithuania "for consultations" in light of "the changed family circumstances".

The Defence Ministry has asked Lithuania's military intelligence service to look into the circumstances of his marriage to a Crimean woman.

"We will then have an answer as to his future (military) service," Olekas said.

In his words, Pikturna was married to a Lithuanian woman when he was sent to Russia as defense attache.