VILNIUS, September 26 (RIA Novosti, Vladimir Vodo) - The commander of the Lithuanian Air Force has been dismissed, a Lithuanian radio station quoted Defense Minister Gediminas Kirkilas as saying Monday.

Colonel Jonas Marcinkus was dismissed by Lithuanian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Major General Valdas Tutkus based on information provided by the Lithuanian State Security Department.

Kirkilas confirmed Marcinkus's dismissal was linked to the recent crash of a Russian Su-27 Flanker fighter.