Lithuanian parliament committee calls on government to expand national sanctions against Russians and Belarusians

The Lithuanian parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has urged the government to draft a new bill expanding national sanctions against Russian and Belarusian citizens, arguing that current restrictions are insufficient, LRT reports.

On Wednesday, the committee unanimously supported the government’s existing proposal to extend sanctions until 2028 but stressed the need for broader limitations. Conservative lawmakers proposed aligning restrictions for Belarusians with those already in place for Russians, including:

• Suspension of new temporary residence permits
• Travel bans to Belarus and Russia
• Real estate purchases permitted only for permanent Lithuanian residents
• Restrictions on property acquisitions near strategic sites

The committee declined to endorse these proposals directly, citing legal constraints—only the government can initiate sanction measures under current law. However, committee chair Remigijus Motuzas (Social Democrats) confirmed the government would be asked to evaluate the conservative proposals and prepare an updated draft of the Law on Restrictive Measures for Military Aggression Against Ukraine.

“We are not dismissing these ideas,” Motuzas stated, while liberal committee member Arminas Lydeka noted that existing sanctions expire on May 2, requiring timely action. “Good ideas should be discussed and adopted, but this cannot be done through parliamentary proposals alone,” Lydeka added.

Conservative MP Audronius Ažubalis criticised Lithuania’s inconsistent treatment of Russian and Belarusian citizens, citing public opinion polls showing Belarusian support for ties with Russia. Fellow conservative Mindaugas Lingė warned of security risks, referencing a Telegraph report on Russian property purchases near sensitive European military and civilian sites over the past decade. Lingė claimed Belarusian and Russian citizens have acquired real estate near Lithuanian strategic objects, including military ranges and airports, since the invasion of Ukraine began.

“The State Security Department admitted they lack the legal authority to monitor these purchases—this is a negligent oversight of national security,” Lingė said.

On March 12, the Seimas approved the government’s proposal to extend sanctions until 2028, adding a new restriction: a ban on vehicles from Russia and Belarus importing more than 200 litres of fuel into Lithuania. Vice Foreign Minister Audra Plepytė explained this would prevent potential circumvention of EU sanctions, as third-country trucks have been observed transporting full fuel tanks into Lithuania.

Latvia and Poland have implemented similar fuel import limits.