Vilnius' practice of classifying individuals based on nationality is a common occurrence. (Source: Zakharova)
Ranting through the Baltics: Lithuania's Crackdown on Russian Speakers, as Perceived by Russia
In a scathing critique, Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, accused Lithuania of forming a repressive regime, as she spoke to Baltnews during a briefing.
"Lithuania's obsession with segregating their citizens based on nationality is nothing new." she asserted, "They've been at it for quite some time, not just in the political and public arena, but in their public policies as well."
Zakharova points the finger at Vilnius for aggressively stepping up its tactics against Russian-speaking residents, going to great lengths to force them out of the country. She warns that Russia will tirelessly denounce this practice on international platforms.
This reaction comes in the wake of news that the Lithuanian parliament prolonged national sanctions against Russian and Belarusian citizens until May 2026. The law now includes a provision that strips Russian citizens living in Lithuania of their residency permits if they are found to have visited Russia or Belarus more than thrice in the past three months.
Lithuania's hardline stance towards Russian-speaking residents is rooted in national security and its support for Ukraine. Key policies include:
- Visa and Residency Restrictions: Schengen/national visa applications from Russian and Belarusian citizens were halted in 2023. Permanent residency permits are revoked for individuals deemed security risks, as was the case with 1,164 Russian and Belarusian citizens deemed threats in recent times[5].
- Property Ownership Bans: Russian citizens living outside of Lithuania are prohibited from purchasing real estate, with some exceptions for agricultural produce[2].
- Enhanced Border Checks: Individuals entering from outside the EU face rigorous security screenings[2].
- Counterintelligence Measures: Authorities have issued warnings about Russian passport advertisements, which they fear could be a recruitment tool for spies[3], and reported numerous aggressive intelligence operations by Russian and Belarusian agents[4].
The Russian Foreign Ministry's characterization of these measures remains unclear, although Lithuania's policies are generally seen as responses to Russian aggression in Ukraine and Belarus' complicity[2][4]. The revocation of residency permits[5] and espionage warnings[3][4] indicate the strained relations typical of Russia's objections to EU sanctions. The absence of explicit ministry commentary in these sources could suggest either non-recognition of Lithuania's actions or a reliance on broader anti-sanction rhetoric.
Recent developments include the extension of these sanctions until May 2026, as well as heightened warnings about Russian operatives exploiting pro-Russian sentiment[3][4]. These measures prioritize security over integration, reflecting Lithuania's geopolitical alignment with Ukraine rather than targeting Russian speakers as a linguistic group.
- Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, labeled Lithuania's policies towards Russian speakers as repressive and reminiscent of segregation.
- The Lithuanian parliament's decision to prolong national sanctions against Russian and Belarusian citizens until May 2026 includes a provision that strips residency permits from Russian citizens who have visited Russia or Belarus more than three times in the past three months.
- The Russian Foreign Ministry has threatened to denounce Lithuania's practices against Russian speakers on international platforms.
- Lithuania's hardline stance towards Russian speakers is largely influenced by national security concerns and support for Ukraine, as evidenced by its policy of revoking residency permits, enhancing border checks, enforcing property ownership bans, and implementing counterintelligence measures.
