Three opposition MPs from the conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats party have proposed revoking Lithuanian residence permits for Russian and Belarusian citizens if they make frequent trips to their home countries.
Laurynas Kasčiūnas, Audronius Ažubalis, and Valdas Rakutis suggest adding this provision to a law imposing restrictions on Russian and Belarusian citizens due to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The three MPs have registered a proposal that calls for suspending the issuance of residence permits for Belarusian citizens, like those for Russians, if they do not have a valid visa. Existing permits should be revoked for Russian or Belarusian citizens who have travelled to Russia or Belarus more than once within three months.
An exception would apply to carriers, truck drivers, those transiting through these countries, or anyone travelling for reasons beyond their control.
According to the conservative politicians, the number of Belarusians who have obtained residence permits in Lithuania has surged in recent years and now stands at about 62,000.
“The vast majority of Belarusians holding temporary residence permits in Lithuania return to Belarus more or less regularly. Among them are those with temporary residence permits issued on humanitarian grounds. In December 2023, 38,000 such cases were recorded,” the MPs say in their argumentation of the draft amendment.
The conservatives argue that these people could be recruited by Belarusian intelligence services and might be asked to perform “certain intelligence functions”.
According to them, halting residence applications from Belarusians and revoking valid permits is necessary “to better protect national security”.
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