Lithuania to Revoke Citizenship for Dual Citizens Supporting Aggressors

Lithuania is poised to revoke the citizenship of dual citizens who demonstrate support for aggressors and pose a threat to national security. A proposal to strip such individuals of their Lithuanian citizenship has been drafted by the Ministry of Interior, which is pushing for the changes to be swiftly incorporated into the country's law.

Commenting on the proposal, Minister of Interior Agnė Bilotaitė emphasized that those who support aggressors and engage in anti-Lithuania activities should not be permitted to hold a Lithuanian passport. “People who support aggressors, as well as those who are engaged in anti-Lithuania activities, cannot hold the country’s passport,” Bilotaitė stated.

The Minister further noted that the proposed changes would allow authorities to employ additional measures to safeguard national security. “These amendments provide the state with tools to protect the interests of national security,” Bilotaitė added.

The proposed amendments also aim to limit the ability of individuals who pose a threat to national security from obtaining or restoring Lithuanian citizenship. The grounds for the loss of citizenship would be expanded under the new law. The Ministry of Interior's proposal stipulates that Lithuanian citizenship should be revoked from those who publicly support a foreign state that threatens the security of Lithuania or any other EU member states and their allies.

“Amendments to the Citizenship Law of the Republic of Lithuania propose to revoke the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania from persons who have dual citizenship, but pose a threat to the security of the Lithuanian state, publicly support a foreign state that threatens the security interests of Lithuania and other European Union states and their allies,” stated the Ministry of Interior.

The proposal also includes a provision that citizenship should be revoked regardless of how it was originally obtained if the individual poses a threat to Lithuania and supports a foreign state that threatens the country’s security.

Lithuania has already implemented some changes to its Citizenship Law. Last year, these changes allowed for the revocation of Lithuanian citizenship from Russian ice dancer Margarita Drobiazko. However, there have been instances where individuals serving in the Russian armed forces or participating in Russian politics have had their Lithuanian citizenship restored. The new proposal would ensure that such individuals are stripped of their Lithuanian citizenship.

In conclusion, Lithuania is set to tighten its rules on dual citizenship, particularly targeting those who support foreign aggressors and threaten national security, thus providing the state with stronger tools to protect its interests.

By fLEXI tEAM