Vilnius is moving to harden its stance against Russian and Belarusian nationals linked to the Kremlin, with a new legislative package that would bar pro-war figures from public-facing roles and further restrict property purchases near sensitive locations. The amendments, tabled by the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, are framed as a response to what officials describe as Moscow's and Minsk's use of cultural, educational, and sporting exchanges as tools of influence.
The proposed changes to Lithuania's Law on Restrictive Measures in Response to Military Aggression against Ukraine would prohibit individuals and legal entities from Russia and Belarus from conducting public activities in education, science, culture, sport, the arts, and entertainment if they have supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine, worked in occupied Ukrainian territories, backed repression in Russia or Belarus, or refuse to sign a declaration condemning the war.
According to the ministry, the goal is to prevent the Kremlin and the Belarusian leadership from exploiting soft-power channels to spread propaganda and shape public opinion. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson told Euronews that the restrictions would "prevent situations where cooperation in the fields of education, science and studies, culture, art, and entertainment could be exploited to foster a favorable view of ongoing aggression, disseminate the ideology of aggressor states, and legitimize the politicized and manipulative activities of the Kremlin and Minsk regimes."
The spokesperson added that the measures would "enhance the resilience of Lithuanian society against information threats." The ministry argues that the new legal framework would give authorities a clearer basis for consistent decisions, replacing ad hoc assessments with objective criteria.
Property restrictions extended
The amendments also tighten existing rules on real estate. Under current Lithuanian law, Russian citizens without a permanent or temporary residence permit are already barred from buying property. The new proposals would extend that ban to Russian citizens who do hold residence permits, but only for properties located near facilities deemed critical to national security or close to military training areas. The same restrictions would apply to Belarusian citizens.
Vilnius says the objective is to "significantly" reduce the risk that property near sensitive sites could be used for intelligence gathering, surveillance, or other hostile activities. The move aligns Lithuania with several neighbours that have already adopted similar measures.
Estonia restricts third-country nationals, including Russians and Belarusians, from acquiring property in certain areas important for national security. Latvia has gone further, prohibiting Russian and Belarusian citizens from purchasing real estate anywhere in the country. Finland, since 2025, has banned Russian and Belarusian citizens from obtaining permission to acquire property.
The Lithuanian proposal comes amid heightened security concerns across the Baltic region. Recent incidents, such as an unidentified object entering Polish airspace and Russian strikes across Ukraine, have underscored the volatile security environment. Lithuania, which shares a border with Russia's Kaliningrad exclave and Belarus, has been a vocal advocate for a firm European response to Moscow's aggression.
The proposed amendments are now subject to parliamentary debate in Vilnius. If passed, they would give Lithuanian authorities a more robust legal toolkit to counter perceived threats from individuals and entities linked to the Kremlin and Minsk. The move is likely to be watched closely by other EU member states, as the bloc continues to grapple with how to balance security concerns with the principles of free movement and cultural exchange.
For now, the Lithuanian government is clear about its intent: to send a signal that activities aimed at legitimising Russia's war or undermining European security will not be tolerated on its soil. As the conflict in Ukraine grinds on, such measures are becoming an increasingly common feature of the European security landscape.
