The Seimas of Lithuania has decided to extend national sanctions against citizens of Russia and Belarus for another year. The law adopted in 2023, which restricts certain rights of citizens from the aggressor countries, is effective until May 3, 2025, but the deputies have extended its term until May 2, 2026. All 115 members of the Seimas voted “in favor,” with no deputies opposing and only one abstaining.
This is reported by Finway
As reported by Lithuania’s national broadcaster, lawmakers did not support stricter sanctions against citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus. In particular, it was proposed to unify the sanctions by refusing to accept their applications for residence permits in Lithuania, as well as denying Russians without a valid visa. Other initiatives, which included revoking residence permits for those who frequently visit their countries, were also rejected.
Thus, the Seimas agreed only to extend the existing sanctions without adopting new proposals. It is worth noting that Lithuania has suspended the acceptance of applications for Schengen and national visas from citizens of Russia and Belarus, except in cases where such applications are submitted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania.
Citizens of Russia and Belarus arriving from outside the EU are subject to additional checks regarding national security threats. They are also prohibited from bringing in or taking out Ukrainian hryvnias from Lithuania, and the import of agricultural products and feed from Russia or Belarus is banned. According to current legislation, Russians without a residence permit are prohibited from purchasing real estate in Lithuania. These measures are part of Lithuania’s national sanctions, in addition to those already in place regarding the authorities and economies of the mentioned countries under EU sanctions.