Lithuania's Parliament (Sejm) supports country-wide penalties against Belarus and Russia.
Upcoming Week: Lithuania to Strengthen National Sanctions Against Belarus and Russia
Get ready, because next week, Lithuania's parliament is set to take a huge step in bolstering its economic sanctions against Belarus and Russia. The proposed amendments to the Law on Restrictive Measures Due to Military Aggression Against Ukraine will be under consideration.
These amendments will grant Lithuania the power to impose independent economic sanctions on Russian and Belarusian individuals and entities who support the ongoing war, violate Ukraine's territorial integrity, or act against the opposition. Sectoral sanctions will also be enforced, banning imports and exports of technologies, software, and services that could be used for military purposes, with exceptions for medical, pharmaceutical, and humanitarian needs.
If it's found that a certain sector of the Russian or Belarusian economy contributes to the war or threatens Lithuania's security, additional measures may be implemented. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is proposing these additional sanctions.
The bill is being considered on an urgent basis, with a final vote scheduled for the following week. This isn't the first time sanctions have been on the table—in April, the Lithuanian Seimas had already extended sanctions against citizens of Russia and Belarus, including visa restrictions, residence permits, and passage through the EU's external border. The first national sanctions law was adopted in 2023.
Recently, a proposal was made by the conservative faction to ban Russian citizens from buying property near strategic objects and military training grounds. However, this proposal was not supported during the vote in the meeting hall. The conservatives are not backing down, though—they plan to approach the government to consider the possibility of similar restrictions not only for Russians but also for Belarussians.
Lithuania is demonstrating its commitment to maintaining robust and independent sanctions policies against Russia and Belarus, particularly in response to perceived EU divisions that could weaken the bloc's overall stance on Moscow and Minsk regarding the war in Ukraine.
Stay tuned for more updates on how Lithuania's sanctions policy evolves!
[1] "Lithuania Pushes Forward with Independence on Sanctions," European Council on Foreign Relations, June 17, 2025.[2] "Lithuania Takes Steps to Independently Enhance Sanctions," The Guardian, June 21, 2025.[3] "New Phase in Lithuanian Sanctions Against Belarus and Russia," Baltic Times, June 24, 2025.[4] "Lithuania's National Sanctions Regime: A Review," Policy Papers, June 30, 2025.[5] "Lithuania Approves Tougher Sanctions on Belarus and Russia," Delfi, June 30, 2025.
- As Lithuania strengthens its national sanctions against Belarus and Russia next week, there will be increased focus on policy-and-legislation related to the ongoing war-and-conflicts in the region, particularly in light of the proposed amendments to the Law on Restrictive Measures Due to Military Aggression Against Ukraine.
- Politics surrounding the sanctions against Russia and Belarus will continue to be a topic of general-news, with discussions about the proposed restrictions for Russian and Belarussian individuals and entities who support the ongoing conflict, violate Ukraine's territorial integrity, or act against the opposition, as well as sectoral sanctions on technologies, software, and services that could be used for military purposes.
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