Lithuania plans entry ban for Russian troops who fought against Ukraine

Lithuania is planning to ban Russian service members who took part in the war against Ukraine from entering the country.

As reported by LRT, the Lithuanian National Radio and Television, Lithuania's Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovič said a list of Russian soldiers to be banned from entering is already being processed, although Lithuania is still working on the practical aspects.

"This is a national initiative. Estonia has already started, and we are now clarifying when, who and how it can be implemented, because it is complex work," Kondratovič said.

Kondratovič also stressed the need for accuracy before implementation begins.

"We must be sure that the data is genuinely authentic and correct, and that there will be no legal disputes afterwards. Our colleagues in Estonia have this list. We are sharing it, they are already implementing it, and we are joining them," he added.

Kondratovič said the number of Russians who fought against Ukraine could potentially reach the hundreds of thousands.

Lithuania's Migration Department said it has not yet received official data, adding that decisions will be taken within its remit as soon as they arrive.

The EU suspended its visa facilitation agreement with Russia in early September 2022. Based on this decision, the European Commission proposed that EU member states adopt a tougher approach to issuing Schengen visas to Russians.

Since then, countries bordering Russia, such as the Baltic states, as well as Finland, Czechia and Poland, have banned Russian tourists from entering altogether.

Hungary has been one of the few EU countries to refuse to implement the Council of the European Union's decision to suspend the visa facilitation agreement with Russia.

At the beginning of March, Finland decided not to accept Russian passports without biometric data, with the new rule due to take effect in June.