In Lithuania, 1,164 citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus were recognized as a security threat

In Lithuania, 1,164 citizens of Russia and Belarus were recognized as a threat to national security after the start of the war in Ukraine. On this basis, they were not issued or extended residence permits or national visas. This was reported by the Migration Department of Lithuania.

All these citizens, as specified in the department, had to fill out a special questionnaire before applying for a residence permit or a national visa, in which, among other things, they should indicate their attitude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, “Nastoyashe Vremya” reports.

“After the assessment of all – public and non-public – information, it was established that 254 Russians and 910 Belarusians represent a threat to national security,” the Lithuanian Migration Department specified.

Earlier it was reported that after the war, 135 Russians were deprived of their residence permits in Lithuania. Now the Department of Migration provides additional details. Out of 254 Russians deemed a “security threat”, 43 citizens were refused a Lithuanian residence permit, and another 46 were refused an extension. Another 59 citizens of Russia had previously valid residence permits canceled, and 52 Russians had their permanent residence permit revoked by the Lithuanian authorities. 52 Russian citizens were refused a national visa.

In November 2022, the Lithuanian authorities developed a special questionnaire for citizens of Russia and Belarus, in which, in addition to the information required to obtain a residence permit in the country, it was necessary to indicate their attitude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This questionnaire has become one of the main documents on the basis of which the Lithuanian Migration Department can make a decision to issue the specified documents.

• In April 2023, the Seimas of Lithuania adopted a law on sanctions against Russians and Belarusians. The document tightened the procedure for issuing permits for permanent or temporary residence in Lithuania to citizens of Russia and Belarus, the procedure for issuing them visas, introduced a ban on the movement of Russian citizens, except for a number of them, across the external border of the European Union. The Seimas of Lithuania also seriously limited the opportunity to purchase real estate in the country for citizens of Russia.
• In 2022, EU countries issued more than 94,000 primary residence permits to Russian citizens. This was reported by the “Vorstka” publication, which analyzed the data of the European statistical agency Eurostat. The publication clarifies that this is a record observed by Eurostat since 2008. Germany issued the largest number of primary residence permits to Russians – 16,066. Spain (12,611) is in second place for issuing primary residence permits, followed by Poland (12,277).