Today, the Lithuanian Seimas almost unanimously recognized Russia as a state supporting terrorism and Russia's actions against Ukraine as terrorism. By the decision taken, the issuance of all visas to Russian citizens for entry into Lithuania has been discontinued.
The Lithuanian Foreign affairs commission noted in a statement to the Seimas that due to the Russian attack on Ukraine, more than 12 million Ukrainians were forced to flee their homes in horror, and another 5 million Ukrainians had to leave the country.
"During this time, several human rights groups and international monitoring missions reported atrocities committed by the Russian armed forces against civilians in Ukraine, including torture, rape, murder and mass detention of civilians in so-called filtration centres, as well as mass deportations, the statement said," Lithuanian media LSM quotes the statement of the Commission on foreign affairs.
The Seim did not ignore the fact that less than 24 hours after the signing of agreements on the safe export of Ukrainian grain, Russia fired missiles at the port of Odesa. Thus, Russia deliberately demonstrated disrespect for its obligations, the international order and its institutions. This is a fact of deliberately exacerbating the crisis, which can lead to world hunger and death.
"The Seimas Foreign affairs commission said in a statement that Russia is using suffering and intimidation as a tool to demoralize the Ukrainian people and armed forces, paralysing the state's ability to act to occupy Ukraine. The deputies recognized Russia's violence against civilians, which is carried out to achieve political goals, as terrorism, and Russia as a state supporting terrorism, and called on other like-minded countries to express such an opinion," LSM referring to the statement of the Seimas Commission.
The Seim condemns the actions of Russia and its war against Ukraine, which is carried out with the support of Belarus. Lithuania calls on the Euro-Atlantic community of the European Union and their partners to strengthen sanctions against Russia and cancel the visas of Russian citizens.
