Lithuania has decided to permit entry to the country for Russians of Lithuanian descent fleeing military mobilisation. However, these people face many obstacles on their way to Lithuania, as reported by Lithuanian public media LRT.
Similar to Latvia, on 19 September Lithuania closed its borders for Russian citizens who have Schengen visas. After the announcement of partial military mobilisation by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lithuania also announced it will not be providing asylum to citizens of the aggressor country fleeing conscription.
Last week, however, Lithuania’s Coordination Committee for the Management of the Emergency Situation decided to permit entry to the country for Russian citizens of Lithuanian descent.
As LRT was told by the chairman of Lithuanian community in Kaliningrad Sigitas Šamborskis, Russians with Lithuanian roots rush to use this opportunity.
«This morning, I received calls from people in Kaunas and elsewhere. There are already young people [from Russia] who have arrived [in Lithuania]. We are advising them on how to get their residence permits processed,» he said, adding that queues have started forming on the border.
Russian citizens can travel to Lithuania if they have documents proving their Lithuanian descent, such as birth certificates.
«Based on the documents submitted, our officials assess whether a person is of Lithuanian origin or not,» he said.
However, the trip from Kaliningrad to Lithuania is not always smooth even for people who have all the necessary documents.
«All kinds of things happen. Sometimes, they are turned around, sometimes, they are handed a summons to the Russian army [at the border]. Others try to bribe Russian border guards. Some succeed, some don’t,» said Šamborskis.
Russia does not allow citizens who were issued with conscription notification to leave the country, but Russians of Lithuanian descent are trying to leave the country by any means.
«It is quite easy to cross the Belarusian border. Somehow, the Belarusians are not paying attention to this yet. People are overcoming this barrier. It just takes stubbornness.»
According to him, Russians that flee to Lithuania plan to remain in this country for good and want to bring their families along. «Hey are looking for a place to live, for jobs, they are formalising residence permits in Lithuania. They are not planning to return to Russia. I don’t know anyone who is planning to come back,» he claims.
Full article in English is available here: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1792422/russians-of-lithuanian-descent-desperate-to-flee-mobilisation