Lithuania refuses entry to 26 Russian citizens since Monday

Lithuanian border guards barred entry to 26 Russian citizens between Monday noon and Tuesday 8:00, the State Border Guard Service (VSAT) said on Tuesday.

Antanas Montvydas, deputy chief of the VSAT, told the LRT RADIO earlier on Tuesday that 1,461 Russian citizens had arrived in the country between Monday and Tuesday morning after Lithuania introduced a more stringent entry procedure.

According to him, seven Russian citizens were refused entry at Kybartai and Medininkai border checkpoints, four at Lavoriškės, and two at Raigardas. The remaining checkpoints barred entry to one Russian citizen each.

Six of those refused entry held visas issued by Lithuania, four had visas issued by France, another four had visas issued by Germany, and three had visas issued by Poland. The remaining Russian citizens who were not allowed to enter Lithuania’s territory held visas issued by Austria, Greece, Hungary, and Italy.

There were no conflicts between border guards and the people barred entry at border checkpoints, Montvydas said.

“We have not recorded any conflict situations. They understand the decisions adopted by us and go back to their country of departure,” he told LRT RADIO.

“There were all sorts of people – those who pleaded ignorance and those who admitted trying to enter our country despite the fact that there is legislation in place that prevents entry,” he added.

VSAT | J. Stacevičiaus / LRT nuotr.

Montvydas also said that, according to unofficial sources, Latvia had refused entry to three Russian citizens during the same period.

According to the VSAT data, 1,159 Russian citizens arrived in Lithuania on Monday, almost half fewer than the week before (2,141).

With a regional decision to bar entry for some Russian citizens holding visas now in effect, Lithuanian border guards only allow in people complying with the criteria approved by the government, ie Russian diplomats, dissidents, employees of transport companies, family members of EU citizens, as well as Russians with residence permits or long-stay national visas issued by Schengen countries.

Also, Russian citizens are allowed to transit through Lithuania by train to and from the Russian Kaliningrad region.

The ban is part of a resolution adopted by the Seimas on the introduction of a state of emergency at Lithuania’s border with Russia and Belarus. It will remain in force at least until December 16.