The realization struck Rūta Korsakienė not through an official channel, but via video clips published on social media. When her sister, Daiva Zakažauskaitė, went to Iran alongside travel companion Erika Šlimaitė tiek žinių, the situation led to a conflict that lasted for days as details of the secret trip came to light.
Rūta Korsakienė revealed in the LRT broadcast Ne taip paprasta
that she did not know about her sister’s plans in advance. She found out about the visit only after Daiva Zakažauskaitė and Erika Šlimaitė were already in the country, spotting them through Instagram Reels. When Rūta asked if she had gone to Iran, her sister confirmed it. Rūta stated that she personally knew Iran was included on the list of states from which Lithuanian citizens were recommended to depart immediately, though she could not answer whether her sister knew this.
The revelation triggered a two-day argument between the sisters. Rūta stated that she did not support the journey, emphasizing that a war was ongoing and pointing out the nature of the country, its people, and its regime. In response, her sister argued that the claims were untrue, sending videos showing peaceful scenes where people were relaxed, enjoying days, spending time in restaurants in the evening, dancing, and singing. Rūta recalled telling her sister, Per daug geras gyvenimas, per daug gražu,
adding that she did not believe the footage because it resembled everyday life seen on the streets of Vilnius.
Sister Considers Trip to Istanbul After Losing Contact
After being unable to reach her sister for two days, Rūta experienced immense frustration and even considered traveling to Istanbul herself, knowing the hotel where her sister was supposed to stay during a three-day stopover on her return trip from Iran to Riga and eventually Vilnius. According to police records, Daiva Zakažauskaitė (born 1992) and Erika Šlimaitė (born 1983) had flown from Lithuania to Turkey on October 7 and subsequently to Iran, losing direct contact with relatives starting October 11 pagal policijos duomenis.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (URM) officially announced on October 27 that it received formal information from Iran regarding the detention of the Lithuanian citizens. URM chancellor Aistė Stakėnienė indicated that the ministry formally asked Iranian authorities for permission to visit the detained women and sought to have a consular official from another European Union member state conduct the visit while direct contact remained unestablished.
