Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovič has restored Lithuanian citizenship to Vitalijus Kazakevičius after a court approved a settlement between the ministry and the man, whose citizenship had been revoked by the previous administration over alleged ties to Russia’s military.
Kondratovič signed the order last Thursday, the news website 15min.lt reported Monday.
According to the settlement, reached in July and approved by the Regional Administrative Court on September 3, the Interior Ministry agreed to return Kazakevičius’ citizenship, cover nearly 3,700 euros in legal expenses, and pay 1,000 euros in compensation.
Interior Ministry spokesperson Mindaugas Bajarūnas said the court found there was insufficient evidence to justify stripping Kazakevičius of his citizenship.
Kazakevičius, born in 1984, and Juozas Samuolis, born in 1978, lost their Lithuanian citizenship last year under a decision by then-Interior Minister Agnė Bilotaitė. The Migration Department had received intelligence suggesting they were serving in the Russian armed forces and fighting against Ukraine.
At the time, the department said it could not contact the men through official channels but noted that Lithuanian law allows revoking citizenship if a person serves in a foreign military without government permission.
Bilotaitė told 15min.lt she had no doubts about the intelligence provided by security services when she made the decision.
In September 2023, Lithuania also revoked the citizenship of Kęstutis Kvietkus, a Lithuanian reportedly serving in the Russian armed forces and fighting in Ukraine.
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
