Lithuania to survey over 18,000 Belarusians who came before 2022

February 27, Pozirk. Lithuanian authorities will survey more than 18,000 Belarusian nationals who came to the country before 2022, the migration department’s head Evelina Gudzinskaitė has told Delfi.

They would be required to fill out a questionnaire that Belarusians now usually complete when entering Lithuania. Migration department may contact security services for further checks, the official noted.

Those who refuse to fill out the questionnaire may have their residence permits revoked if security services deem them a threat to national security, Gudzinskaitė said.

A total of 62,474 Belarusians reside in Lithuania and about 20,000 of them relocated from Belarus before 2022, according to the Lithuanian migration department’s data.

Starting from November 2022, adult Belarusians and Russians are required to fill out the questionnaire containing questions about their education, jobs, military service, business contacts as well as their attitude to Russia’s war on Ukraine and contacts with the authorities of NATO and non-European Union’s countries.

Based on the collected data, Lithuanian migration authorities designated 2,041 foreigners, including 1,644 Belarusians, as a threat.

On February 14, Laurynas Kasčiūnas, head of the national security committee in the Lithuanian parliament known for his concern, proposed revoking the residence permits from Russians and Belarusians who travel to their home countries more than once a month.

He is also preparing a motion to ban Russians and Belarusians with permanent residence in Lithuania from running and voting in municipal elections.

On January 31, Vilnius approved a proposal to extend restrictions for Russians for another year and tighten checks on Belarusian travelers. 

Last spring, Lithuanian MPs approved restrictions for Russian nationals in Lithuania.

Belarusians were excluded from most of the measures after a heated debate.

President Gitanas Nausėda vetoed the law, seeking the same treatment for Belarusians and Russians, yet the parliament overrode the veto.