Persons with citizenship of Russia, Belarus or China will no longer be able to serve in the Armed Forces of Lithuania or be members of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union. The corresponding amendments to the legislation were adopted by the Lithuanian Parliament on December 19, informs LRT.
The initiative was supported by more than 100 deputies. It provides that Lithuanians with dual citizenship, one of which belongs to countries to which Lithuania prohibits travel (in particular Russia, Belarus and China), will not have access to professional military service, voluntary forms of service, as well as mandatory military duties.
Active military personnel who acquire the citizenship of these countries will be released. The same restriction applies to members of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union. Amendments to the laws were developed and registered by the Minister of Defense of Lithuania, Laurinas Kaschyunas, and the Parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense.
As of November 2024, 11 people with dual citizenship (of Lithuania and Russia or Belarus) served in the Armed Forces of Lithuania. The total strength of the Lithuanian army is approximately 20,000 people.
