Lithuania to review Lolišvili’s right to stay after court ruling

Lithuania will assess whether Giorgi Lolišvili can remain in the country after serving his prison sentence, LRT reported, after the Supreme Administrative Court ruled on a dispute over his residence status.

The court said the Migration Department had grounds to revoke Lolišvili’s permanent residence permit because of his conduct, but could not cancel a permit that had already expired. It upheld the part of the department’s decision concerning his long-term resident status in the European Union.

The court issued its final ruling on September 30, partially granting the department’s appeal. The department had challenged a May 19 ruling by the Regional Administrative Court, which had annulled its decision of February 6 to revoke the Georgian citizen’s permanent residence permit and EU long-term resident status on public-order grounds.

Migration Department adviser Rokas Pukinskas told BNS that the department would soon begin assessing Lolišvili’s legal status and whether he can stay in Lithuania after prison. The review may take about two months and will include discussions with Lolišvili and consideration of information from other agencies about his violations.

Lolišvili may apply for a temporary residence permit or asylum, but the department is unlikely to grant either request because he is considered a threat to public order. If he does not apply, or his applications are rejected, he could be expelled from Lithuania and would be able to challenge the department’s decisions in court.

He is serving a one-year prison sentence imposed on December 15, 2025, after fatally injuring his elderly neighbour while reversing a vehicle. The sentence became final in mid-January, and about three months of his term remained at the time of the report.