Lithuanian security advisor defends restrictions for Russians, Belarusians

Lithuania may introduce dual citizenship in 2024 and cannot afford increased numbers of Russians and Belarusians becoming Lithuanian nationals, Delfi reported citing the official.

In the future, Lithuania may revise these restrictions and simplify citizenship procedures if the security situation in the region changes and Moscow ceases hostilities in Ukraine, Bydrus noted.

On March 21, Lithuanian MPs approved the first reading of a bill that would make Russians and Belarusians ineligible to apply for Lithuanian citizenship over the war in Ukraine.

The bill proposes that Lithuania stop accepting Schengen visa applications from Russian and Belarusian nationals at its visa center abroad, except in cases when authorized by the Lithuanian foreign ministry. The bill also bans the issue of Lithuanian national visas.

In February 2022, Russia started a full-scale war against Ukraine. Alaksandr Łukašenka admitted that Belarus participated in Russia’s war on Ukraine, but said it was “not killing anyone.”