Lithuania blacklists 15 law enforcement officers of the Russian Federation
Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2023.05.30
Following the recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis, the Ministry of the Interior has blacklisted 15 law enforcement officers of the Russian Federation, who are responsible for the sentence of Russia's opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza.
Blacklisting 15 law enforcement officers of the Russian Federation has been made in response to a letter of 40 MEPs to the EU Foreign Ministers. The letter of 24 May 2023 called for adopting tough sanctions against Russian judges, prosecutors and all those responsible for the sentence of Kara-Murza.
"The threat posed by the Kremlin-controlled regime in Russia remains as long as this regime is in power, and no one in Europe or the world can feel safe. It is clear to everyone that Vladimir Putin has no intention of adhering to any rules of the civilized world. The decisions of Russia's courts under Putin clearly show that those who dare to fight for democracy are regarded as traitors. Persecutors of Kara-Murza must face international sanctions and be included in the lists of prohibited persons," said the Minister of Foreign Affairs Landsbergis.
"Lithuania sends a clear message that individuals supporting the regime and contributing to gross violations of human rights in the Russian Federation, particularly those targeting a defender of human rights like Kara-Murza, are not welcome in our country. This should not be tolerated in any democratic state," emphasized Minister of the Interior AgnÄ— BilotaitÄ—.
Sanctions against these 15 officials of the Russian Federation were imposed following Article 133(4) of the Law of the Republic of Lithuania "On the Legal Status of Foreigners," which stipulates that a foreigner who publicly and/or actively supports or participates in activities that violate the principles and norms of international law pursued by a foreign state and is included in the national list of foreigners prohibited from entering another EU member state, European Free Trade Association member state, or NATO member state for these reasons is prohibited from entering the Republic of Lithuania for a period not exceeding five years.
Russia's opposition activist Kara-Murza was arrested in Moscow on 11 April 2022. On 17 April 2023, a Moscow court sentenced him to 25 years in Russia for his criticism of the war in Ukraine. Kara-Murza was found guilty of treason, spreading "false" information about the Russian army and being affiliated with an "undesirable organisation".
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