Lithuania’s top diplomat deplores veto on milder sanctions for Belarusians

April 14, BPN. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis expressed regret over President Gitanas Nausėda’s veto of a bill outlining new restrictions against nationals of Belarus and Russia.

“It is regrettable that the president did not listen to the call of the democratic leader of Belarus, Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja, or the properly balanced position of the Lithuanian Seimas. I want to believe that the Seimas will uphold its position,” the ELTA news agency quoted Landsbergis as saying, according to Delfi.

The Seimas needs at least 71 of 141 votes  to override the veto.

The bill that passed the Seimas on April 4 would suspend the acceptance of visa applications from Russians and Belarusians, except those cleared by the Lithuanian foreign ministry. 

It would make Russians ineligible for temporary residence permits, unlike Belarusians.

It would also prohibit Russian nationals and companies from purchasing real estate. This provision would not apply to Belarusians or their companies.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda vetoed the bill on April 14, suggesting that the Seimas “should fully apply all seven restrictive measures to the nationals of Belarus and Russia.”

Cichanoŭskaja criticized Nausėda’s decision, stressing that the president “should not put Belarusians and supporters of the regime on a par with each other,” and that “Belarusians should not be punished for the actions of the regime.”