Lithuania moves to criminalise sabotage, foreign military involvement, and espionage

The Lithuanian parliament (Seimas) has begun considering amendments to the Criminal Code that would introduce criminal liability for sabotage, participation in armed conflicts abroad, and involvement in foreign intelligence or security activities, LRT reports.

The proposed changes, approved in a preliminary vote on Thursday with 101 lawmakers in favour and one abstention, would impose prison sentences of up to 10 years for such offences.

Justice Vice-Minister Martynas Dobrovolskis told parliament that Lithuania’s national security faces growing threats, citing incidents such as damage to undersea cables and risks in economically sensitive zones. “These gaps in the law could be exploited by foreign intelligence or their controlled agents seeking to harm Lithuania’s national interests,” he said.

The draft law defines sabotage as the destruction, damage, or disruption of critical infrastructure or operations vital to national security, punishable by 2 to 8 years in prison. Participation in foreign armed conflicts—where actions contradict Lithuania’s international obligations or target another state’s sovereignty—could carry sentences of 3 to 10 years.

Justice Ministry officials noted that the issue of Lithuanian citizens joining foreign conflicts gained urgency after Russia’s 2014 aggression in Ukraine and its full-scale invasion in 2022. The State Security Department (VSD) has warned that such individuals may acquire skills or connections later used against Lithuania.

The amendments would also criminalise unauthorised cooperation with foreign intelligence services acting against Lithuania, even without formal espionage. Legal entities, as well as individuals, could face liability under the new rules.

The proposal will now be reviewed by the Seimas Legal Affairs Committee before further votes.