October 31, Pozirk. The Lithuanian Seimas security committee has voted 4-2 with 2 abstentions against legislation proposed by Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite to extend the validity of standard residence permits for Belarusians from one to three years.
In a statement posted on the Seimas website, the committee said the measure would “create negative precedents.”
Bilotaite proposed the extension after Minsk had announced its decision to stop providing passport and notary services for Belarusian nationals abroad. She argued that the measure would reduce the government’s administrative expenses and paperwork for Belarusians who flee their country from politically motivated persecution.
The committee noted, however, that the move would be premature given an effort by the Belarusian opposition to launch a new passport for exiled Belarusians. It also cited “manifestations of Litvinism” in an apparent reference to alleged claims by Belarusians to Lithuanian territories.
The committee’s recommendation comes weeks after Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja expressed hope that the permit extension would be enacted soon. In August, Laurinas Kasciunas, chairman of the Seimas security committee, expressed his concern about what he called manifestations of Litvinism among Belarusians in Lithuania.
