The Seimas extended the sanctions applied to citizens of Russia and Belarus, and tightened the screening of incoming Belarusians

109 members of the Seimas voted for these proposals, 2 against, 8 MPs abstained.

The draft law, which was approved by the Seimas, provides that in cases where citizens of Belarus cross the external border of the European Union (EU) to the territory of Lithuania with a visa, an additional assessment of the risk due to the threat posed by their arrival to internal security, public health or international relations.

It is also planned to limit the right of legal entities to purchase real estate after assessing whether a Russian citizen is a beneficiary of a specific legal entity in accordance with the Law on Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing.

The proposal to ban the import of agricultural products and fodder originating from the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus was also approved.

The proposal to limit the trips of citizens of Russia and Belarus to their homeland remained unconsidered

During the session, the members of the Seimas decided not to consider at all the proposal of conservative Audronis Ažubalis that the residence permit granted to the citizens of Russia and Belarus should be canceled if these persons return to their home country more than once in three months. Although this proposal was presented during the meeting, the necessary quorum of parliamentarians who wanted to vote was not formed.

Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said that the quantitative restrictions proposed by her party colleague A. Ažubalis are pointless.

“It seems to me that in all cases, the specific risk associated with a specific person must be assessed, and not only with citizens of Russia and Belarus who are going to Russia and Belarus for some business, but also with citizens of the Republic of Lithuania, who have been banned for three years. to do that”, said I. Šimonytė.

“It seems to me that all these quantitative restrictions and attempts to somehow put them on the shelves, completely ignoring the specific situation, are pointless, the Government did not propose them and I would suggest that they be abandoned,” she added.

However, A. Ažubalis criticized the decision taken by the Seimas not to limit the trips of Russians and Belarusians to their homeland.

“Colleagues, you rejected expertise, you rejected knowledge of special investigations. And you felt like masters at the risk of national security. This is certainly unjustifiable and certainly does not bring you honor,” the conservative did not hide his disappointment with the decision of the Seimas.

During the voting at the acceptance stage, the proposal to include a provision stating that the temporary residence permit issued to a citizen of Russia or Belarus in Lithuania would be revoked if he deliberately, publicly and systematically disseminates false information that is against the interests of society or the state.

Also deleted was the suggestion that those persons who publicly agreed to the crime of aggression recognized by the United Nations Organization documents or the decisions of international courts, which violates the Charter of the United Nations, would lose their residence permit in Lithuania.

ELTA reminds that the Department of State Security (VSD) proposed to limit the number of trips to the homeland of citizens of Russia and Belarus to one per month.

According to the data of the State Data Agency, in 2022 31 thousand were issued to citizens of the Republic of Belarus. temporary residence permits in Lithuania, 2023 – about 23 thousand In total, the number of people who came to Lithuania and received a temporary residence permit is about 62 thousand.