Lithuania plans to extend sanctions for Russian and Belarusian citizens until 2026
Lithuania plans to extend national sanctions against Russians and Belarusians for another year, until 2026, as Russia continues its war in Ukraine.
This was reported by Censor.NET with reference to LRT.
As noted, such measures are provided for by an amendment to the law developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania. The law on restrictive measures in connection with military aggression against Ukraine, updated this year, is valid until May 3, 2025. The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry proposes to extend it until May 2, 2026.
The explanatory note to the bill notes that the full-scale war unleashed by the Russian Federation against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, is still ongoing, so the reasons for the law's adoption have not disappeared.
"The actions of the Russian Federation have a significant negative impact not only on the security of the European Union (EU) and NATO member states but also on the security of Europe as a whole," the explanatory note says.
It is noted that no changes to restrictive measures for citizens of Russia and Belarus are proposed. Seimas Speaker Saulius Skvernelis does not rule out the possibility that the restrictive measures may be strengthened.
"The issue of sanctions and the scale of sanctions, especially against Belarus, is likely to change, but not in the direction of weakening. We are talking about a threat to our national security. All these restrictions should be reasonable, should not violate the interests of those people whom we invited to come to Lithuania and gave the opportunity to temporarily live here, but everything should be viewed through the prism of security," he said.
What restrictions apply to Russians and Belarusians in Lithuania
Thus, the law suspends the acceptance of applications for Schengen and national visas from Russian and Belarusian citizens, except when it is done through the mediation of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the acceptance of applications for a temporary residence permit in Lithuania, except for those who have a valid Schengen or national visa, residence permit in Lithuania or another EU state.
Russians and Belarusians arriving from outside the EU are subject to additional checks for threats to national security, public order, public policy, internal security, public health or international relations.
In addition, they are prohibited from importing Ukrainian hryvnias into and out of Lithuania, and are prohibited from importing agricultural products and feed made in Russia and Belarus.
Russians who do not have a residence permit in Lithuania are prohibited from buying real estate in Lithuania.
It is worth recalling that national sanctions against citizens of Belarus and Russia were first introduced by the Seimas of Lithuania in 2023. This year, they were updated and extended.
