Lithuania has revoked the temporary residence permit of a Russian national who repeatedly travelled to Russia and Belarus, in breach of new restrictions that came into force in May, the country’s Migration Department announced on July 3.
According to the Lithuanian press, this marks the first case of residency cancellation under the recently introduced law, which prohibits Russian citizens from entering either Russia or Belarus more than once within a three-month period, Caliber.Az reports.
Migration authorities have confirmed that 30 additional cases are currently under examination.
In total, officials have identified 34 Russian nationals as possibly violating the new legislation, which was adopted as part of Lithuania’s response to Moscow’s ongoing military aggression against Ukraine.
Under the law, temporary residence permits granted to Russian citizens can be revoked if the holder has crossed into Russia or Belarus more than once in any given three-month window.
Migration authorities have already initiated procedures to strip 30 other Russian citizens of their temporary residence, pending the completion of verification processes and receipt of personal explanations from the individuals involved.
The legislation includes exemptions for certain categories of travellers, notably those employed in international transportation — such as truck drivers or ship crews — engaged in freight or passenger services between the European Union and other destinations, including those transiting through Lithuania. These individuals are required to present valid employment documents, such as work certificates, to qualify for the exemption.
The Migration Department clarified that none of the individuals currently facing potential revocation meet the criteria for these exceptions.
In May alone, Lithuanian border authorities recorded 292 instances of Russian citizens crossing into Russia or Belarus more than once. However, most of these travellers were covered by legitimate exemptions provided under the law.
The Lithuanian parliament introduced the restrictions after national intelligence services warned that individuals visiting Russia or Belarus could be vulnerable to recruitment by foreign intelligence agencies hostile to Lithuania and the broader European Union.
By Tamilla Hasanova
Source: caliber.az
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