MINSK. Aug 4 (Interfax) - Lithuania has designated over 1,000 citizens of Belarus and Russia as threats to national security, the Lithuanian Migration Department said on Friday.
"In total, 1,164 citizens of these countries have been designated a threat to Lithuania's national security," it said.
The list of citizens threatening Lithuania's national security has been compiled since late 2022, when Russian and Belarusian citizens applying for a Lithuanian national visa or residence began to be asked to fill in a questionnaire, which included questions about their attitude towards Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, their service in the Armed Forces, their education, and current and previous jobs.
"After evaluating all (public and non-public) information, 910 Belarusian citizens were designated as individuals posing a threat to national security, of which 337 were refused a temporary residence permit in Lithuania and 121 others had their requests to renew such documents declined. Another 205 Belarusians had their previously valid temporary residence permits revoked; two Belarusian citizens were refused permanent residence permits for Lithuania, and four had such documents revoked," it said.
Lithuania also refused to issue national visas to 241 Belarusians who had applied for one, it said.
"As many as 254 Russian citizens have been designated as individuals posing a threat to national security. In particular, 43 Russians were denied temporary residence permits in Lithuania and 46 were denied an extension of them. Another 59 Russian citizens had their previously valid temporary residence permits revoked, and 52 Russians were deprived of their permanent residence permits for Lithuania. Two Russian citizens were denied a permanent residence permit for Lithuania which they were making their first application for. National visas were not granted to 52 Russians who applied for them," it said.
All of these people have also been barred from entering Lithuania.
"Before making a decision, after evaluating applications from and information on Russian and Belarusian citizens, the Migration Department always cooperates with and consults three national institutions, namely the State Security Department, the State Border Guard Service, and the police," it said.