Seimas extends the state of emergency in Lithuania

Press release, 13 September 2022

The Seimas has once again extended the state of emergency in Lithuania. ‘A substantial change compared to the current arrangement is that the area subject to the state of emergency is now limited. Another issue concerns the broadcasting and rebroadcasting of various Russian and Belarusian propaganda TV channels, which are prohibited by the Resolution that has just been adopted by the Seimas. We have already agreed that such restrictions should be transposed into the Law on the Provision of Information to the Public. To my knowledge, the Chair of the Seimas Committee on Culture has prepared the respective amendments and is ready to register them in the near future,’ Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said when presenting the draft document at the morning meeting earlier today.

The state of emergency will be introduced:

1) within the entire border area at the state border of the Republic of Lithuania with the Republic of Belarus;

2) within the entire border area at the state border of the Republic of Lithuania with the Kaliningrad Oblast of the Russian Federation;

3) at border crossing points located outside the border area (to enter into force on 19 September 2022).

The emergency situation would be introduced at 00.00 (midnight) of 16 September and last until 24.00 (midnight) of 16 December 2022. During this period, the following emergency measures will apply:

1) use of the state reserve in order to ensure appropriate reception conditions for foreigners fleeing military aggression and/or persecution;

2) strengthening of the guarding of the state border;

3) the transit of foreigners travelling under the special transit scheme through the territory of the Republic of Lithuania shall take place in accordance with the conditions established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania and agreed upon with the State Border Guard Service under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania;

4) tightened visa regime for foreigners. Under the tightened visa regime, acceptance of visa applications by the citizens of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus and the adoption of decisions on these applications by the visa services of the Republic of Lithuania abroad will be suspended, with the exception of the cases when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs acts as an intermediary in issuing visas;

5) in the territories under the state of emergency, checks on vehicles and persons as well as their luggage will be carried out in accordance with the procedure laid down by law with a view to tracing and seizing illicit firearms, ammunition, explosive, radioactive, toxic and other hazardous substances and devices, identifying and detaining offenders, safeguarding public order and public peace, and protecting the life, health and property of the population.

As part of the restriction on citizens of the Russian Federation to cross the external border of the European Union, the State Border Guard Service under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania will ensure that only citizens of the Russian Federation who meet the criteria laid down by the Government are admitted to the territory of the Republic of Lithuania through the external border of the European Union.

The Resolution On the Introduction of a State of Emergency was adopted by 68 MPs voting in favour, with 5 against and 26 abstentions (Draft No XIVP-1973(2)).

Under the Resolution of 28 June 2022, the state of emergency was introduced in the entire territory of the Republic of Lithuania at 00.00 (midnight) of 30 June. It will last until 24.00 of 15 September 2022.

Following Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the President of the Republic of Lithuania, by his Decree of 24 February 2022, introduced a state of emergency throughout the territory of the Republic of Lithuania for a period starting at 13.00 of 24 February and ending at 24.00 (midnight) of 10 March 2022. On the same day, the Seimas adopted a resolution endorsing the decision by the President. As a result of the actions of the Russian Federation that threaten the primary interests of national security of the Republic of Lithuania, the state of emergency has been extended two more times.

Saulė Eglė Tembo, Chief Specialist, Press Office, Information and Communication Department,

tel. +370 5  239 6203, e-mail: [email protected]