Lithuania grants permanent residency to Russian opposition figure Leonid Volkov
Friday 5th June 2026 on 12:30 in
Lithuania
Lithuania has approved a permanent residency permit for Russian opposition activist Leonid Volkov, a close associate of the late Alexei Navalny, the country’s Migration Department confirmed to BNS on Wednesday.
The decision followed an assessment of Volkov’s application, including public and non-public information, as well as an evaluation by intelligence services. “A similar assessment was already carried out earlier this year when reviewing Volkov’s public statements on social media,” department representative Rokas Pukinskas told BNS. “Although this was done recently, we requested a reassessment of all possible risk factors when considering the permanent residency application.”
Volkov has lived in Lithuania since 2019 after fleeing Russia amid criminal charges. In 2021, Moscow placed him on its wanted list. Initially entering Lithuania on a visa, he later obtained temporary residency. To qualify for permanent status, he was required to pass exams in the Lithuanian language and constitutional basics.
Pukinskas stated the process was conducted “strictly in compliance with legal acts, free from any external influence or pressure.” No information emerged during the review that would disqualify Volkov from receiving residency.
Earlier this year, Volkov sparked controversy after a leaked private message revealed his approval of the killing of Denis Kapustin, a Russian volunteer corps commander active in cross-border raids during Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. In the message, Volkov called Kapustin a “Nazi” whose existence benefited Kremlin propaganda and expressed hope that other Ukrainian officials would face similar fates, claiming it would improve Ukraine’s chances of victory.
The remarks drew criticism from Lithuanian leaders, with some politicians urging Volkov’s expulsion. The Migration Department subsequently requested an assessment from the State Security Department (VSD), which found no threat to national security. Volkov later apologised, calling his statement “stupid, emotional, and wrong.”
In March, Volkov survived an attack near his home in Vilnius when an assailant struck his car.