Lithuania intends to deprive Ilze Liepa of citizenship due to Russian support

The Lithuanian Ministry of Internal Affairs ordered the migration department to begin the procedure for depriving ballerina Ilze Liepa of Lithuanian citizenship due to public support for Russia. About this writes Baltic News Service.

“Ilze Liepa’s public statements are considered as discrediting the state,” BNS quotes the ministry’s statement. The Migration Department, in turn, has already contacted the competent authorities with a request to evaluate Liepa’s statements. According to department representatives, if it is determined that her actions pose a threat to national security, the department will prepare a proposal for the Ministry of Internal Affairs to appeal to the president with a request to revoke his citizenship.

In an interview on the YouTube channel “Empathy Manuchi” on November 1, 2022, Liepa, who has both Lithuanian and Russian citizenship, condemned behavior of the Baltic countries and supported the special operation in Ukraine.

“I am very ashamed of them and very sad <…>. We understand that, unfortunately, the people are becoming hostage to a small group of people. We are very lucky that we have such a leader as Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, who serves his homeland, who is faithful to his duty,” Liepa answered the question about the destruction of Soviet monuments in the Baltic countries and the restriction of Russian culture. “I have no doubt what our president is saying. <...> I think we now understand exactly what it is – a clash of our fundamental values,” she added.

In 2000, Liepa, as an exception, received Lithuanian citizenship. Then it was announced that the soloist of the Moscow Bolshoi Theater received citizenship for dancing with the Lithuanian choreographer Peter Skirmantas for more than 10 years.

BNS notes that, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 800 Russian citizens received Lithuanian citizenship as an exception. The Ministry promises to ask the Department of State Security to ensure a thorough assessment of these individuals and prompt provision of information about them.

According to Lithuanian legislation, a person is deprived of Lithuanian citizenship acquired by exception if his actions threaten the security interests of Lithuania, if he publicly expresses support for a state that threatens the security interests of Lithuania or other member states of the European Union or their allies. In accordance with this provision, in September, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda deprived citizenship of ice dancer Margarita Drobyazko for her participation in Tatyana Navka’s ice show in Sochi. Nauseda also deprived figure skaters Drobyazko and Povilas Vanagas received state awards.