Lithuania to Extend National Sanctions on Russian & Belarusian Citizens for Another Year

The Lithuanian authorities plan to extend the national sanctions that currently apply to citizens of Russia and Belarus for another year.

This extension is being planned due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, and no changes have so far been proposed to the sanctions targeting these two nationalities, Schengen.News reports. 

The current measure that Lithuania applies against citizens of Russia and Belarus is set to expire on May 3, 2025. This means that if the authorities decide to extend the measure, the sanctions for these two groups of foreigners will remain in place until May 2, 2026. 

As LRT explains, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania has drafted an amendment to extend the law on Russians and Belarusians. 

The same emphasised that the explanatory note from the Ministry says that the law needs to be extended as the reasons for which it was introduced are still prevailing.

The note further adds that Russia’s actions have a negative impact not only on the security of the EU and NATO members but also on the security of the entire European continent. 

How Will the Extension of Sanctions Affect Russians & Belarusians? 
If the Lithuanian authorities decide to extend the sanctions on Russians and Belarusians, these two nationalities will continue to be unable to submit applications for a Lithuanian short-term visa. 

In addition, just like until now, Russians and Belarusians will also not be able to apply for a national visa if the sanctions are to remain in place. Visa applications for them will only be permitted in cases when the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs acts as an intermediary. 

With the prolongation of sanctions, Lithuania will also continue to refuse to accept residence permit applications from Russians and Belarusians. Currently, exceptions are only made for citizens of Russia and Belarus who hold a valid short-term or long-term Schengen visa or a residence permit issued by Lithuania or any other EU member state. 

Additionally, Russians and Belarusians entering the territory of Lithuania from a foreign country will continue to be subject to additional checks, through which the Lithuanian authorities aim to ensure national security and public safety. 

The law also bans Russian citizens who do not hold a residence permit issued by the Lithuanian authorities from purchasing real estate in the country.

Source: https://schengen.news/lithuania-to-extend-national-sanctions-on-russian-belarusian-citizens-for-another-year/