The Citizenship Commission has recommended that the president grant Lithuanian citizenship to the American ice dancer Allison Reed.
The athlete has been representing the country with her Lithuanian partner Saulius Ambrulevičius in international competitions, but could not go to the Olympic Games because she is not a Lithuanian national.
“Having assessed all the circumstances, having listened to the applicant, who came and participated in the commission’s meeting, the commission has decided to propose to the president to grant Lithuanian citizenship to Allison Reed by way of exception,” chairman Pranas Žukauskas told reporters on Tuesday after the commission’s meeting.
For her part, Reed told reporters that she was excited about the decision and sincerely wanted to become a Lithuanian citizen.
“I was a bit worried, but it was good. I have expressed my sincere desire to become a Lithuanian citizen,” Reed said.
Merit and Lithuanian language
A person can be granted Lithuanian citizenship by way of exception – as opposed to naturalisation – if they can prove special merits to the country and integration into the Lithuanian society.
According to Žukauskas, the commission’s decision about Reed was unanimous.
“Merit and achievements at the European Championships, World Championships, and other competitions were assessed, as well as integration criteria, such as knowledge of the Lithuanian language, participation in community life, and community events both in Lithuania and in Canada,” Žukauskas said.
Special merit for the Lithuanian State is defined as an activity by which a foreigner makes a particularly significant contribution to the strengthening of Lithuania’s statehood, its power and authority in the international community.
The Citizenship Commission plans to submit its recommendation to the president within a few weeks.
“Within a week, maybe two, after coordination and preparation of the protocol, all the material will be submitted to the president,” Žukauskas said.
Participation in Lithuanian community activities
He said that the commission asked Reed how she saw her future in Lithuania after the next Olympics.
“The answers were definitely related to activities in Lithuania, both in terms of recreational events and skating education. [...] Her plans are to keep her life and activities more or less linked with Lithuania,” said the chairman of the commission.
Reed communicated with the members of the commission in Lithuanian and English.
“One of the objectives was to see her Lithuanian language skills by inviting her to the commission meeting. I can say for sure that some applicants who have lived in Lithuania for ten years do not speak the language as well as she does,” Žukauskas said.
“There are no questions about her basic knowledge of the Lithuanian language, her ability to converse and communicate,” he added.
Reed herself told journalists that she was studying Lithuanian together with the Lithuanian community in Montreal and with a personal tutor.
“We were part of a wonderful Lithuanian community in Montreal. I joined their Lithuanian language school and I also have a personal tutor. It’s great to be part of that community, they welcome me very warmly,” said the athlete.
According to Žukauskas, the commission members also asked her about her favourite Lithuanian places and Lithuanian festivals.
Rejected twice
The commission had originally planned to make the decision on Reed’s application in mid-June but then decided to invite the athlete herself to the meeting.
President Gitanas Nausėda has twice – last year and the year before – rejected Reed’s application for Lithuanian citizenship, saying she had not demonstrated any special merits for Lithuania.
However, after the athlete and her partner Ambrulevičius won bronze in the ice dancing event at the European Figure Skating Championships this year, Nausėda said he would consider a new application “with a different mood”.
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