Lift Ban on Visas, Resident Permits, and Citizenship Applications for Belarusian Citizens in Lithuania

We, the undersigned, are Belarusian citizens who have sought refuge in Lithuania due to the ongoing political crisis in our home country. We appreciate the support and hospitality that Lithuania has shown us, and we have been working hard to integrate into Lithuanian society. However, we are deeply concerned about the recent decision to ban visas, resident permits, and citizenship applications for Belarusian citizens based on the pasiulymo NR. XIVP-2496 (2) dėl Lietuvos respublikos ribojamųjų priemonių dėl karinės agresijos prieš Ukrainą nustatymo įstatymo. We believe that this decision is unfair and unjust, and it will negatively impact our lives and the Lithuanian economy. We understand that Lithuania is committed to promoting human rights and democracy in Belarus, and we fully support these goals. However, we believe that there are alternative ways to achieve these goals without punishing innocent Belarusian citizens who are seeking safety and stability in Lithuania. We urge the Lithuanian authorities to reconsider this decision and to engage in a dialogue with the Belarusian community in Lithuania to find a mutually beneficial solution. We believe that thousands of Belarusian IT professionals who have moved to Lithuania can make a valuable contribution to the Lithuanian economy, and we are willing to pay taxes and contribute to the development of Lithuania. We propose to remove the mention of Belarusians from the pasiulymo NR. XIVP-2496 (2) dėl Lietuvos respublikos ribojamųjų priemonių dėl karinės agresijos prieš Ukrainą nustatymo įstatymo law, as people should be judged by their deeds and not by their nationality, and provide time to finalize the law in order with democratic values ​​what would be more effective against those who support violence and violate international norms. We ask you to consider our situation and to uphold the principles of human rights, democracy, and justice that Lithuania stands for. Sincerely, Belarusians.