Lithuania may revoke Russian oppositioner's residency permit over anti-Ukraine statements
Russian opposition representative Leonid Volkov, who lives in Lithuania, has called Ukrainian soldiers and officials Nazis. The country's Migration Service will decide whether to extend his residence permit.
As reported by LRT, the issue concerns statements published the previous day – correspondence between Volkov and a representative of the Russian Volunteer Corps in the Ukrainian army, in which Volkov spoke disparagingly about Denis Kapustin, the commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps.
In December, Ukrainian military intelligence staged the death of Kapustin, who is wanted by Russia, and this operation became known in January. In the correspondence, Volkov expressed satisfaction at Kapustin's "death".
"In a certain sense, denazification has indeed taken place. A Nazi whose very existence was a gift to Kremlin propaganda has died," he wrote.
He also called Kyrylo Budanov, then chief of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, a "repulsive provincial political technologist".
"I hope Kapustin's friends will follow him. (Andrii) Yermak will be imprisoned, (Mykhailo) Podoliak will be imprisoned, Budanov will be imprisoned, and all other propagandists and hypocrites will be imprisoned. And then Ukraine will have a chance to win. But while it is being built on cabbage [Kapustin and his associates – ed.], no one will look its way," he said.
After these messages were published, Volkov apologised for the letter, which he described as "emotional and harsh", but reiterated that he condemns "neo-Nazis".
On Tuesday 6 January, Lithuania's Migration Service contacted the country's State Security Department for additional "consultation regarding a possible threat to national security" and asked it to assess the foreign national's statements that appeared on social media.
Lithuanian law on the legal status of foreigners provides that a temporary residence permit may be revoked if a foreigner's stay in the country poses a threat to national security, public order, or people's health. Remigijus Motuzas, the Chair of Lithuania's Committee on Foreign Affairs, said that after assessing Volkov's statements, the country's authorities must decide whether he can continue to stay in Lithuania.
"We will consult with the Committee on National Security and other bodies. I believe this really should be done, and only after that should a final decision be taken on whether Volkov may live in Lithuania, in the European Union, or not," he said.
Kęstutis Budrys, Lithuania's Foreign Minister, in turn, noted that individuals who do not support Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and defence needs "have direct consequences for the national security of the Republic of Lithuania".
"It is expected that citizens of Lithuania, and especially foreign citizens residing in Lithuania with one status or another, who hold a residence permit in Lithuania or have asylum, will demonstrate due respect for and support of the fundamental provisions of Lithuania's national security," he added.
On 1 September, it became known that Finland's National Bureau of Investigation had launched a probe into a former Russian Wagner Group mercenary who was detained in the summer of 2025 on Finnish territory.Recently, Finland deported a soldier who had been part of Wagner Group and had illegally crossed the Finnish border.