The Lithuanian government on Wednesday backed draft legislative amendments that would integrate some units of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union into the armed forces during wartime and tighten vetting requirements for members of the paramilitary organisation.
Under the Defence Ministry’s proposals, the Riflemen’s Union’s armed resistance and specialised units operating under military commandant offices and assigned tasks under the armed defence plan would automatically become part of the armed forces once wartime is declared.
In peacetime, members of these units would be assigned to specific military units to ensure their integration and readiness to carry out joint national defence tasks in the event of war, the ministry said. Once martial law is declared, they would be subject to the same service conditions as other members of the armed forces.
Currently, the armed forces are supported by the organisation’s combat units in the event of aggression.
The proposed amendments would also expand vetting requirements for Riflemen’s Union members and applicants. Background checks would cover activities, connections and other circumstances that could affect an individual’s reliability, vulnerability, loyalty to the state and national security interests.
The vetting would not apply to youth members, who do not perform duties involving classified information or sites critical to national security.
“Effective comprehensive defence requires proper coordination among all its elements,” Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said in a statement. “The legislative changes will further integrate the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union into the country’s national security and defence system and strengthen riflemen’s readiness to take part in the armed defence of the state.”
The amendments still require approval by the parliament.
The Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union is a voluntary civic paramilitary organisation with about 17,000 members.
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