Lithuania will not deprive Russians and Belarusians of residence permits that frequently travel to their homeland

The Lithuanian Parliament rejected a bill that would have deprived Russians and Belarusians of residence permits in the country, who often travel to their homeland. This was reported by the local TV channel LRT.

According to him, the document was supported by 20 deputies, 47 voted against, and another 45 abstained. At the same time, the parliament supported the initiative to deprive Russians and Belarusians of residence permits who support Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine or deliberately, publicly and systematically disseminate information “contrary to the interests of society or the state.”

A bill on depriving Russian and Belarusian citizens of residence permits was submitted to the Lithuanian Seimas by deputies Audronius Azubalis, Angele Jakavonytė and Kazys Starkevicius. In the text of the document, they noted that Belarusians who return home during the holidays can be recruited by local services.

One of the authors of the bill explained at a parliamentary meeting that, in his opinion, trips to the homeland of Russians and Belarusians with a Lithuanian residence permit more than once every three months pose a threat to the security of Lithuania.

Previously, this bill was supported by the Sejm Committee on National Security and Defense (NSDC). Then, at a committee meeting, five of its eight members voted for the document.

According to LRT, in the first half of 2023 the number of Russians living in Lithuania increased to 16.1 thousand people. According to the text of the bill, in 2023 the number of residence permits issued to citizens of Belarus exceeded 20 thousand, and in total about 62 thousand Belarusians live in Lithuania.

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