Lithuania calls on EU to designate Russia's foreign intelligence agency a terrorist organization

Lithuania has urged the European Union to classify Russia's foreign intelligence agency, GRU, as a terrorist organization, urging the EU to take a stronger stance against Moscow's hybrid attacks. In a statement ahead of an EU foreign ministers meeting on October 12, Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys argued that the EU must designate GRU as a terrorist group, as the agency already operates as such in its operations.

Budrys, who previously worked for Lithuania's State Security Department, emphasized that increasing sanctions and showing seriousness would prevent Russia from causing further harm to EU capitals. He further criticized the EU for recently removing sanctions on two oligarchs, which he claims only emboldened Russia to escalate its actions in Ukraine and Europe.

Currently, no Russian entities are listed on the EU terrorist list, which primarily targets Islamist groups like Hamas and Islamic State.