A conservative MP has proposed a law that would ban Russian and Belarusian nationals from owning guns in Lithuania.
Laurynas Kasčiūnas, who heads the Committee on National Security and Defence (NSGK), argues that the ban is needed to prevent the formation of subversive groups in Lithuania in case of unrest.
“Citizens of a hostile foreign state living here may take up arms to defend the interests of their country of origin in emergency situations due to ideological affinity or civic loyalty,” Kasčiūnas told BNS. “It is appropriate to prohibit the citizens of countries which do not meet the criteria for European and transatlantic integration from acquiring and possessing weapons while permanently residing in Lithuania.”
According to the proposed amendments to the Law on Control of Weapons and Ammunition, permanent residents of Lithuania who are citizens of countries that do not “meet the criteria of European and transatlantic integration” would be prohibited from acquiring and possessing weapons, including hunting rifles.
Those who already possess weapons would be obliged to give them up within one year and their permits to keep or carry weapons would be revoked.
“At the beginning of the large-scale open war launched by Russia against Ukraine on 24 February, saboteur groups were active in Ukrainian cities, marking targets on buildings to be bombed by the aggressor Russian forces, and engaging in sabotage activities to create disorder and paralyse the work of Ukrainian institutions. These groups were made up of people loyal to Russia and many of them had weapons,” Kasčiūnas said.
“Such a scenario, in which subversive groups sympathetic to hostile states may form and operate in times of possible crises or war, although unlikely in Lithuania, must be taken into consideration,” he added.
According to the NSGK, there are currently 294 Russian and 46 Belarusian citizens living in Lithuania who have permits to keep or carry weapons.
According to Kasčiūnas, the Estonian government has approved similar legislation.
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