In Lithuania, citizens of Russia and Belarus were banned from owning weapons

The Seimas (parliament) of Lithuania has banned citizens of Russia and Belarus permanently residing in the country from owning weapons. Corresponding amendments were adopted to the law on the control of weapons and ammunition.

112 deputies voted in favor of the amendments, one voted against, and 13 abstained. The updated law will come into force on January 1 next year.

This initiative was put forward by the Chairman of the National Security and Defense Committee of the Seimas (KNBO) Laurynas Kaschyunas. In his opinion, the proposed measure will help protect Lithuania from the formation and activities of various groups that support the interests of Russia and Belarus.

The explanatory note to the document states that today 294 citizens of Russia and 46 citizens of Belarus have permission to keep or carry weapons in Lithuania.

Those of them who have a weapon will have to give it up - sell it, remake it or hand it over to the police within a year after the amendments enter into force. Permits to store weapons from citizens of Russia and Belarus will be cancelled.

at the Antakalnis cemetery in Vilnius . was demolished In early December , a monument to Soviet soldiers who died during the liberation of the city from the Nazi army in 1944

Earlier, the Lithuanian Ministry of Justice explained that only six steles depicting soldiers were being dismantled at the cemetery. The memorial and the burials themselves will remain in their place.