Lithuania has closed the external centres through which foreigners submitted documents for obtaining a residence permit in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and also in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The country's authorities linked the decision to an assessment of security risks and the threat of terrorism.
WHICH CENTRES WERE CLOSED
According to TASS, Lithuania's Minister of Internal Affairs Martinas Katelinas reported the closure of external service provider offices in four countries. These centres acted as intermediaries between foreign nationals and Lithuanian institutions: they accepted applications for obtaining a residence permit and initiated migration procedures.
The decision concerns Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the minister, there are no plans to open new similar offices in these countries.
WHAT REASONS WERE GIVEN
Katelinas explained the decision by an assessment of the security situation and the threat of terrorism. According to him, Lithuania's State Security Department reported potential risks and is identifying among people arriving from Central Asian countries those who are alleged to hold radical views or be linked to terrorism.
The closed offices performed an intermediary function in the submission of documents for a residence permit in Lithuania. In connection with their closure, the procedure for submitting applications through these external centres in the specified countries is being discontinued.
HOW LITHUANIA IS CHANGING ITS APPROACH TO MIGRATION POLICY
Katelinas also stated that one of the directions of changes in migration policy could be a complete abandonment of external service providers, through which foreigners abroad submit applications for obtaining a residence permit. According to him, the country's migration policy could be based on temporary labour migration.
