Lithuania weighs curbs on Kremlin supporters and property buyers

Lithuania’s parliament has begun considering proposals to restrict some Russian and Belarusian citizens from public activities and property purchases near strategic facilities, LRT reported.

The Foreign Ministry’s proposal would bar citizens of the two countries who have directly or indirectly supported Russia’s war against Ukraine from entering Lithuania to teach, take part in sports or perform. They would also have to sign a public declaration condemning Russian aggression before travelling to Lithuania.

The proposal follows a dispute over rapper Alisher Morgenstern, who has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and performed songs described in the report as propaganda. Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry declared him an undesirable person last year, and the Migration Department imposed a 10-year entry ban. A court later overturned the ban, saying an entry decision should be based on findings from the State Security Department. A concert by Morgenstern in Vilnius is now planned for late October.

The proposed property restrictions would cover areas near strategic facilities and apply whether or not a Russian or Belarusian citizen has a residence permit. Examples cited by a deputy foreign minister include the territory of Klaipeda State Seaport, state airports and major railway hubs. The restricted radius has not yet been set. The ministry says the measure could affect about 10 percent of the current property supply.

Russian citizens without residence permits and their companies are already prohibited from buying real estate in Lithuania. Four members of the Nemunas Dawn parliamentary faction abstained in the vote on the proposal, saying they saw possible ways to circumvent sanctions. Faction leader Remigijus Žemaitaitis also questioned how the rules would apply to people with another citizenship and said the proposal did not address political prisoners granted asylum in Lithuania.