Amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Lithuania has decided to extend the state of emergency until mid-December. Also, from September 19, Russian citizens with Schengen visas will not be allowed into Lithuania.
A state of emergency is introduced on the Lithuanian border with Russia and Belarus.
The Seimas of Lithuania, with 68 votes in favor, adopted a resolution on the introduction until December 16 of a state of emergency on the border of Lithuania with Russia and Belarus. Currently, the state of emergency is in force throughout the country until September 15.
From midnight on September 16, the state of emergency will cease to operate throughout the country, except for the territory on the border with Russia and Belarus.
It is reported that from September 19, when the ban on the entry of Russian citizens into Lithuania comes into force, the state of emergency also comes into force at border control points located outside the territory of the border section.
That is, the state of emergency will be in effect at the Vilnius and Kaunas airports, at the Vilnius railway station.
Only certain categories of citizens of Russia and Belarus will be allowed into Lithuania. We are talking about dissidents, freedom fighters, independent journalists, other persons arriving for humanitarian reasons and their families, as well as family members of EU citizens, sailors, persons transiting through Kaliningrad and holding long-term D visas.
The Baltic countries and Poland are closing off from Russians- The Baltic countries and Poland are introducing a ban on entry into their countries for Russians with Schengen visas. The ban for Russians will come into force on the night of September 18-19.
- As you know, the Baltic countries and Poland advocated a complete ban on the entry of Russian tourists into the European Union. Also, President Vladimir Zelensky called on Western countries to restrict entry for Russians.
- Germany, France and several other EU countries opposed the retaliatory step. As a result, the European Union decided to suspend the visa facilitation agreement with Russia.
