Lithuanian president to push for tougher sanctions on Belarus, Russia

April 21, BPN. Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda will continue supporting tougher sanctions against Russia and Belarus despite the Lithuanian Seimas’ vote exempting Belarusians from some restrictions, said his aide Kestutis Budrys.

The bill that originally passed the parliament 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 and prohibit Russian nationals and companies from purchasing real estate, unlike Belarusians.

Nausėda vetoed the bill on April 14, suggesting that the Seimas should fully apply all restrictive measures to the nationals of both Belarus and Russia. Lithuanian parliament overrode Nausėda’s veto on April 20.