Lithuania proposes to tighten residence rules for Russians and Belarusians

In Lithuania, three opposition MPs from the conservative party "Fatherland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrats" have proposed depriving Russian and Belarusian citizens of their residence permits in Lithuania if they frequently visit their homelands. This was reported by European Truth with reference to LRT.

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The deputies propose adding this provision to the law that imposes restrictions on citizens of Russia and Belarus in connection with Russia's war against Ukraine.

These three deputies registered a proposal that provides for the suspension of the issuance of residence permits for Belarusian citizens, as well as for Russians, if they do not have a valid visa.

Existing permits should be revoked for citizens of Russia or Belarus who have traveled to Russia or Belarus more than once within a three-month period.

Exceptions will be made for carriers, truck drivers, those transiting through these countries, or those traveling for reasons beyond their control.

According to conservative politicians, the number of Belarusians who have received residence permits in Lithuania has increased sharply in recent years and now stands at about 62 people.

"The vast majority of Belarusians who have a temporary residence permit in Lithuania return to Belarus more or less regularly. Among them are those who have a temporary residence permit issued for humanitarian reasons. In December 2023, 38 thousand such cases were recorded," the deputies write in the argument for the draft amendments.

Conservatives claim that these people may be recruited by Belarusian intelligence services and may be asked to perform "certain intelligence functions."

In their opinion, the cessation of accepting applications for residence from Belarusians and the cancellation of existing permits is necessary "to better protect national security."

Recently, the Latvian Seimas National Security Committee prepared a bill that would ban some government employees from traveling to Russia and Belarus.

As a reminder, on February 20, deputies of the Latvian Seimas supported in the first reading a bill that prohibits citizens of Russia and Belarus or legal entities belonging to them from purchasing real estate in the country.

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