Lithuanian Seimas Approves In First Reading Draft Law Banning Belarusians From Applying For Visas, Citizenship

The proposed date of entry into force of the law is April 15.

The Seimas of Lithuania has approved in the first reading a bill which provides that citizens of Russia and Belarus will not be able to apply for Lithuanian citizenship and that consideration of already submitted applications will be suspended. This is stated in the press service of the Lithuanian Parliament.

The new measure is in addition to the draft law on imposing restrictive measures in connection with Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. According to the amendments, it is proposed to stop accepting applications for Lithuanian citizenship from Russian and Belarusian citizens and thus ensure national security interests.

According to the initiators of the proposal - Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite and Chairman of the Seimas Committee on National Security and Defence (KNBO) Laurynas Kasčiūnas, this restrictive measure proposes not to abolish the possibility of obtaining citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania, but only to suspend the acceptance of applications and decisions on citizenship admission.

"This measure will not affect the acquisition of citizenship by right of birth, as in these cases there is no provision for applications and decision-making, and persons of Lithuanian origin or persons eligible for restoration of citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania may come to Lithuania and apply for a permanent residence permit, so their ability to live in Lithuania will not be restricted. Citizens of Russia and Belarus, who already reside in Lithuania with a temporary or permanent residence permit, could continue to live in Lithuania, but their applications for citizenship would not be accepted and questions of their citizenship would not be considered, except for the cases where the person himself renounces Lithuanian citizenship or where the person has acquired the citizenship of another state," the authors of the amendments said.

In addition to citizenship applications, the bill proposes to stop accepting visa applications from Russian and Belarusian citizens at Lithuanian visa services abroad (except for cases where the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry acts as an intermediary), as well as accepting applications for residence permits both in Lithuania and at its representations abroad (except for foreigners who apply for a residence permit through the body authorized by the Lithuanian government). An exception is made for holders of a national or Schengen visa, as well as for those who already have a residence permit or a decision to grant it.

Applications for e-resident status will also no longer be accepted.

In addition, the amendments imply the publication of information on companies linked to Lithuanian politicians that maintain economic ties with Russia and Belarus.

According to Bilotaite and Kasčiūnas, 33 citizens of the Republic of Lithuania were granted citizenship by naturalization in 2021 and 16 Belarusians in 2022. In 2021, 34 citizens of Belarus were granted citizenship by the simplified procedure, while in 2022 - 6 citizens of Belarus.

Kasčiūnas informed that the draft law on imposing restrictive measures in connection with the military aggression against Ukraine is to be adopted in the Seimas in the second reading in the near future. The proposed date for the law to enter into force is April 15 this year. The law will be valid for one year with a possibility of prolonging the validity of the restrictive measures.