Lithuania to ban 600 Russians who fought against Ukraine from entering Schengen Area

Lithuania plans to ban hundreds of Russians who took part in the war against Ukraine from entering its territory and the Schengen Area.

Source: European Pravda, citing Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT

Details: According to Lithuania's Migration Department, the country has identified nearly 600 Russian soldiers who participated in combat operations against Ukraine.

The department said all those individuals are expected to be swiftly added to Lithuania's list of banned persons and to the Schengen Information System with an entry ban.

The entry ban to Lithuania will remain in force for 10 years and the Schengen-wide ban will apply for five years, with the possibility of extension.

Background:

• In March, Lithuania's Interior Ministry said it had identified and added 268 participants in combat operations against Ukraine to relevant lists, bringing the total number of Russian soldiers banned from entry to nearly 900.
• Estonia, which first initiated such measures against Russian soldiers at the EU level, has already added more than 1,000 Russian service members to its lists.
• In March, eight EU member states called on EU leadership to ban former Russian servicemen from entering the Schengen Area, and discussions on the proposal have continued since then.
• Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed the EU's willingness to initiate such measures.

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