Lithuanian Conservatives Seek to Restrict Belarusians' Right to Acquire Real Estate in Lithuania
Lithuanian conservatives propose restricting the acquisition of real estate in Lithuania for citizens of Belarus and Russia. Representatives of the opposition Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats party presented this initiative in the Seimas. They propose amending the law on restrictive measures adopted in connection with the war in Ukraine, writes Delfi.lt.
Vilnius. Illustrative photo. Photo: Nasha Niva
According to the conservatives' proposal, citizens of Belarus and Russia are planned to be prohibited from buying real estate near military training grounds and other strategically important objects. In addition, stricter rules are proposed: if the changes are approved, the right to acquire real estate will remain only for those citizens of Belarus and Russia who have a permanent residence permit in Lithuania. Individuals with a temporary residence permit will not have such an opportunity.
It is also proposed that even holders of a permanent residence permit would only be able to acquire real estate near strategic objects after obtaining permission from Lithuanian institutions. The initiators believe that such property could be used for hostile purposes.
According to data from the Lithuanian Centre of Registers, in 2022–2024, citizens of Belarus acquired 1,834 properties, of which 1,152 are located within a 10-kilometer zone of strategic objects; 556 buyers had temporary residence permits. During the same period, citizens of Russia acquired 2,814 real estate properties in Lithuania. Of these, 1,845 people acquired property within 10 kilometers of important infrastructure objects, including 364 – having only a temporary residence permit.
The authors of the initiative claim that citizens of Belarus and Russia are quite actively acquiring real estate near important objects, and therefore Lithuania should strengthen control. The conservatives already submitted a similar proposal a year ago, but it did not receive support then. Now they plan to re-submit the refined project during the spring session of the Seimas, which begins on March 10.
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