Lithuanian State Security: Karach's "Our House" artificially creates conditions for Belarusians who do not meet international protection criteria to receive a residence permit in Lithuania

According to the assessment of the State Security Department (SSD) of Lithuania, the public institution "Our House" ("Mūsų namai"), headed by Volha Karach, creates favorable conditions for individuals cooperating with the special services of hostile countries to enter and legalize their stay in Lithuania.

This is stated in a statement published by the Ministry of Interior of Lithuania on October 19.

The SSD describes the mechanism as follows: the Belarusian authorities recognized "Our House" as an extremist organization, and precisely through this status, circumstances are artificially created for Belarusians associated with the organization, who do not meet the criteria for international protection, to receive residence permits in Lithuania.

According to the SSD, such a scheme facilitates the abuse of the right to international protection.

In fact, it means that any Belarusian, even one who does not face political persecution in their homeland, can participate in a rally in Vilnius with the flag of "Our House", and then submit documents to receive political asylum in Lithuania — arguing that they now face criminal prosecution for cooperation with "Our House". And the Lithuanian state must take such people under protection, issuing them an indefinite permanent residence permit.

The Lithuanian special services consider Karach herself a threat to state security. According to the assessment of law enforcement, she actively disseminates information in social networks that corresponds to Russian propaganda narratives: discrediting Lithuania, downplaying support for Ukraine, and inciting distrust in Lithuanian state institutions. The SSD also claims that Karach cooperated with Russian special services in 2015-2019.

However, Karach cannot be expelled from Lithuania, as expulsion to Belarus would threaten her safety. According to the law, such foreigners who cannot be expelled are issued a residence permit for a period of up to one year, which also grants the right to work.

"The situation is absurd: our intelligence institutions state that a specific person poses a threat to national security, but international law does not allow her expulsion, so the state itself must issue such a person a permit to live and work here. Moreover, the fee for issuing such a permit is not paid by the person whose activities harm our state, but by Lithuanian taxpayers," said Martynas Katelynas, Minister of Interior of Lithuania.

Павялічыць

Katelynas announced a series of steps. He will appeal to the relevant authorities to provide a legal assessment of Karach's and "Our House's" activities, which, according to the ministry, contradict Lithuania's national security interests. It will be assessed what measures can be taken against legal entities associated with individuals who pose a threat to national security. If there are legal grounds for this, the court may also decide on the liquidation of the legal entity.

The Migration Department must check whether Karach and similar individuals have citizenship of other countries, the right to live in other states, or other legal possibilities to travel to a safe third country.

According to the ministry, legally, expulsion to a safe third country is possible, but forced expulsion requires a legal basis and a state that agrees to accept such a person.

"Lithuania is not a place where one can abuse legal protection and further harm the security of our state. If we cannot expel a person who acts against our state, it does not mean that we should create conditions and all opportunities for them to live here. Our state is not powerless and cannot be," Katelynas stated.

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