Lithuania is revoking citizenship from its compatriots who are fighting on the side of Russia against Ukraine

According to the decision of the head of the Lithuanian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Agnė Bilotaitė, Lithuanian citizenship has been revoked from Vitalijus Kazakevičius, born in 1984, and Juozas Samuolis, born in 1978.

The special services provided information to the country indicating that these individuals were serving in the Russian military and fighting against Ukraine. “After receiving such information, the Migration Department prepared a recommendation for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, based on which Minister Agnė Bilotaitė signed the decree,” the official response states.

As is known, according to paragraph 4 of Article 24 of the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania, citizenship is lost if a citizen serves in another state without the permission of the Lithuanian government. In mid-September, citizenship was revoked from Lithuanian Kęstutis Kvetkus, who serves in the Russian army and is fighting in Ukraine.

Earlier in the summer, information emerged in the public domain about Kvetkus fighting on the Russian side against Ukraine and openly praising Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin on social media. Kvetkus, who joined the Russian army, hails from Jurbarkas and has a criminal record.

According to unconfirmed reports, Kvetkus obtained Russian citizenship. Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anušauskas previously stated that “more than one” Lithuanian is participating on the side of Russia in the war against Ukraine but declined to disclose further details.

Lithuania’s national policy is an example to other allies of a moral stance on fulfilling citizens’ constitutional obligations to the state and supporting sanctions in a broader context to stop the war in Ukraine and ensure a stable security climate in Europe.

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