Cichanouskaya welcomes the decision not to limit Belarusians’ trips to their homeland: it is the right decision

“We are grateful to the Lithuanian Seimas and all deputies for today’s decision. Thank you for not equating restrictions on Belarus and Russia, the people of Belarus and Lukashenka and his criminal pro-Russian regime. This is the right decision,” S. Cichanouskaja told Elta.

The leader of the Belarusian opposition noted that the majority of Belarusians do not support the Russian war in Ukraine, so there should be no need to isolate Belarusians.

“The absolute majority of Belarusians do not support the war, many help Ukraine. The movement of people is very important in maintaining links between those who leave and those who stay in the country. We must always remember that we need to isolate Lukashenka’s criminal regime, not the people of Belarus,” she assured.

ELTA reminds that during the meeting on Thursday, the members of the Seimas decided not to consider the proposal of conservative Audronis Ažubalis that the residence permit granted to the citizens of Russia and Belarus in Lithuania should be destroyed 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.

Nevertheless, the Seimas decided on Tuesday to approve the amendments to the law, which propose to extend the national sanctions applied to the citizens of Russia and Belarus for one more year and to tighten the screening of Belarusians entering the country.

It was also decided 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 the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing.

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

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.