Kęstutis Kvietkus, who has served in the Russian forces in Ukraine, will lose his Lithuanian citizenship. The Migration Department head, who signed the proposal, says Lithuanian citizens are not allowed to serve in foreign militaries without the government’s permission.
Evelina Gudzinskaitė said the Migration Department investigated reports about a Lithuanian national serving in the Russian forces and collected evidence from other institutions and the internet.
“In fact, this information confirmed that Kvietkus, a citizen of Lithuania and without the permission of the government of the Republic of Lithuania, is serving in the Russian forces in the war against Ukraine,” Gudzinskaitė, told LRT RADIO.
LRT.lt has contacted Kvietkus for a comment, but he declined.
The story was first reported by the blogger Skirmantas Malinauskas. Kvietkus is reportedly from Jurbarkas and has a criminal record.
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Moreover, according to unconfirmed data, he has acquired Russian citizenship.
Kvietkus’ social media profile contains photos of Russian President Vladimir Putin and of himself wearing a Russian uniform.
“According to what I know, he tried to leave via Belarus, but the Belarusians refused to let him in after checking his background, and then he left via Sovetsk [in Kaliningrad],” says Sigitas Maliauskas, head of the Ukraine support organisation Isle of Snakes.
Minister of Defence Laurynas Kasčiūnas has said that the Lithuanian intelligence has been aware of Kvietkus service in the Russian military.
“This is a serious matter and the state has to react,” said the minister.
Lithuanian intelligence agencies do not disclose whether there are more Lithuanian nationals fighting on the Russian side in Ukraine.
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