The Lithuanian parliament (Seimas) has decided to deprive people of Lithuanian citizenship for supporting aggressor states. The case is related to last year's performance of a pair of Lithuanian figure skaters at a Russian propaganda event.
Source. This was reported by Polish Radio.
According to the amendment, Lithuanian citizenship can be revoked if a citizen of another country who has received it as an exception threatens the interests and security of Lithuania or its allies by his or her actions.
The Lithuanian media note that more than 800 people have become citizens of the country in this way, and only they will be affected by the new rules.
Part of the opposition and legal circles criticize the amendment, as they believe it is incompatible with the Constitution and international law.
The decision of the Lithuanian MPs is related to the case of figure skaters Margarita Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas.
Last August, the Lithuanian couple took part in a show in Sochi organized by Russian figure skater Tatyana Navka, the wife of Dmitry Peskov.
Their trip to Russia was criticized by the Lithuanian authorities. President Gitanas Nausėda removed them from the list of those awarded the Order of Grand Duke Gediminas of Lithuania.
The Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas, Victoria Čmilite-Nielsen, said that their speech at this event negates their achievements.
Margarita Drobyazko received Lithuanian citizenship in 1993. Drobyazko and Vanagas won the first medals in the history of Lithuania in figure skating. In total, they participated in five Olympic Games.
Background. As a reminder, the Seimas of Lithuania unanimously supported the resolution on "Limiting the Influence of the Terrorist State of Russia."