{
  "id": 3572187,
  "title": "Lithuanian president grants citizenship to dozens of people born in Russia and Belarus amid tightening restrictions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/lithuanian-president-grants-citizenship-to-dozens-of-people-born-in",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-26T18:49:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Insider",
    "slug": "the-insider",
    "url": "https://theins.press/en/news/296466"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On August 21, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda issued 30 decrees granting citizenship to 276 individuals and restoring it for ten others who had previously lost it. Among those, 78 were born in Russia and 32 in Belarus. A total of 286 people received citizenship, with 158 women and 128 men, and a median age of 41. The youngest applicant was three years old, while the oldest was 82, including 15 minors. These people received citizenship either through naturalization (151), family ties (60), or a simplified procedure based on Lithuanian origin (65), including 18 born in Russia and three in Belarus. Two Russians regained their previously lost Lithuanian citizenship. This move comes amid Lithuania's tightening migration policy in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which imposes strict visa and e-residency restrictions on Russian and Belarusian citizens. In 2025, Lithuania deemed 1,721 citizens of Russia and Belarus a threat to national security, resulting in denial or revocation of residence permits. In March, conservative lawmakers proposed suspending new temporary residence permit applications from Russian and Belarusian citizens, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggested additional sanctions, including restrictions on real estate purchases. The review of citizenship applications from these countries was initially suspended but has since resumed under additional vetting procedures to assess national interests.",
  "summary": "On Aug. 21, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda signed 30 decrees granting citizenship to 276 people and restoring it for ten others who had previously lost it. Among them were 78 Russian-born individuals and 32 from Belarus. Citizenship was granted to 151 people through naturalization, and another 60 received it on family grounds (mainly through marriage to a Lithuanian citizen). Among those,…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Ukraine’s president coos over a puppy, starting a new volley in his war of visuals against Russia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/ukraines-president-coos-over-a-puppy-starting-a-new-volley-in-his-war",
        "published": "2026-08-26T17:57:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "Ukraine’s president coos over a puppy, starting a new volley in his war of visuals against Russia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/ukraines-president-coos-over-a-puppy-starting-a-new-volley-in-his-war-3565882",
        "published": "2026-08-26T18:23:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euromaidan Press",
        "title": "“This is smart war”: Ukraine is reinforcing two Donetsk groupings, as Russia pushes at fortress cities. Azov commanders will lead both",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/this-is-smart-war-ukraine-is-reinforcing-two-donetsk-groupings-as",
        "published": "2026-08-26T18:59:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}