Vitaliy Dvarashin has been working as a long-haul truck driver in Lithuania since 2012. In March 2022, he permanently relocated to Lithuania due to concerns about conscription into the army and involvement in the war with Ukraine, which he did not support. Vitaliy himself is a conscientious objector and advocates for the right of Belarusian men to refuse taking up arms.

On April 26, 2023, Lithuanian migration authorities revoked his residence permit solely based on the fact of his service in the Belarusian army 20 years ago. Vitali himself, due to his military service, was deemed an undesirable individual on the territory of Lithuania, with a 5-year ban on entry into the European Union.

On June 27, 2023, the Lithuanian court made a decision to restore Vitali’s temporary residence permit and lift the ban on entry into the European Union. The court considered the migration authorities’ arguments claiming that Vitali posed a “threat to Lithuania’s national security” as unconvincing.

We congratulate Vitali and everyone who fought for him on a well-deserved victory!

Thank you to all who showed solidarity, to those who didn’t believe in such a terrible accusation against Vitaliy that he could pose any threat to Lithuania.

Belarusians are not a threat to Lithuania’s national security!

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