New Sanctions Proposed: Lithuania to Restrict Real Estate Purchases for Russians and Belarusians

Lithuania's Foreign Ministry is proposing a new package of sanctions against Russian and Belarusian citizens, aiming to further restrict their activities within the country. The proposed measures include preventing them from acquiring real estate near strategically important sites and barring individuals who support aggression from participating in cultural, educational, and sports events in Lithuania.

The ministry stated that discussions, including those at the municipal level, have highlighted the need for clearer regulations regarding the involvement of representatives from Russia and Belarus in public life in Lithuania. This applies to sectors such as education, science, culture, sports, arts, and entertainment, especially for those supporting the ongoing aggression against Ukraine. The goal is to prevent culture and entertainment from being used for propaganda, historical distortion, or shaping narratives that could influence Lithuanian residents.

Lithuania views it as its duty to protect its public space from regimes that systematically violate human rights, conduct aggression against neighboring states, and use culture or entertainment as tools of soft power. The proposed amendments to the law on restrictive measures due to military aggression against Ukraine would deny entry to Russian and Belarusian individuals and organizations involved in education, science, culture, sports, arts, and entertainment if they are found to have supported the war in Ukraine or engaged in activities that undermine Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Furthermore, individuals seeking to enter Lithuania for these purposes would be required to sign a declaration condemning Russia's aggression against Ukraine and expressing support for the UN Charter, Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The ministry also aims to restrict the ability of Russian and Belarusian citizens holding Lithuanian residency permits from purchasing real estate near sites vital for national security or military training grounds. These proposed changes are slated to take effect from January of the following year.