Lithuania proposes not to admit citizens of Russia and Belarus to the Riflemen’s Union

11 August, 2024 Members of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union. Photo credits: Lithuanian Ministry of Defense The Lithuanian Defense Ministry proposes not admitting citizens of Russia and Belarus to the Rifle Union, which is part of the country's defense.

LRT reported on this. The country's defense ministry has prepared relevant proposals to amend the legislation. The Lithuanian Riflemen's Union (Lietuvos sauliu sajunga) is a paramilitary organization that is the country's third line of defense after the regular army and the volunteer national guard.

According to the proposals of the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense, the amendments to the legislation will stipulate that the shooter cannot be a person who has or has acquired citizenship of foreign countries that pose a threat to national security.

Members of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union. Photo credits: Lithuanian Ministry of Defense

The list of such states must be approved by the government. The Riflemen's Union supported the proposal to amend the legislation.

They noted that the organization had grown significantly in recent years and reported that about 2,000 people had joined it in just a year and a half. The organization's leadership supports "setting up some safeguards" for union members. The draft amendments to the legislation also expand the Rifle Union's functions by creating specialized units for logistics, cybersecurity, communications, medical care, search and rescue, evacuation, and other tasks.

In addition, the Minister of Defense of Lithuania noted that after the adoption of legislative changes, the organization's members will be able to increase their salaries, provide material support, and simplify the procedures for transferring property. According to the Riflemen's Union, the organization currently has over 16,000 members.

Servicemen of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Photo from open sources

In January of this year, the Lithuanian government approved a list of countries that active military personnel are prohibited from visiting for reasons of national security.

This list includes three countries: Belarus, China, and Russia.