Lithuania Bans 15 Russian Citizens Related to Kara-Murza Conviction for Next 5 Years

The decision was made at the suggestion of Agnes Bilotaites, the Minister of the Interior of Lithuania, and the letter of 40 members of the European Parliament, which was sent to the foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) member states on May 24, suggesting that those related to the Kara-Murza conviction be declared undesirable persons.

“Russia under the Kremlin regime remains a threat, and as long as this regime is in power, no one in Europe and the world can feel safe. It could be clear to everyone that [Krievijas prezidents Vladimirs] Putin is not going to follow any rules of the civilized world,” said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.

He emphasized that court verdicts in Putin’s Russia confirm that those who fight for democracy are declared traitors.

Bilotaite said that by acting in this way, Lithuania clearly confirms that supporters of the Russian regime “are not welcome in our country” and this is not acceptable “in any democratic country”.

The decision states that 15 Russian citizens are prohibited from entering Lithuania for the next five years.

It has already been reported that the court in Moscow sentenced 41-year-old Kara-Murz to 25 years in prison in mid-April, finding him guilty of spreading “false information” about Russia’s war against Ukraine.

EU ambassadors have drawn up a list of Russian officials to be sanctioned for Kara-Murza’s imprisonment.

The officials responsible for Kara-Murza’s imprisonment are also planned to be included in the register of human rights violators maintained by the EU. The registry already includes those who poisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Chinese officials responsible for the crackdown on Uyghurs, and African military leaders.