An investigation conducted in collaboration with the independent Belarusian publication "Biuro" has revealed that both sons of oligarch Jurij Čyžas, who has been a major figure in Alexander Lukashenko's regime, were granted Lithuanian citizenship without revealing any risks according to Lithuania's State Security Department (VSD). Čyžas himself has been sanctioned by the European Union since 2012 due to his association with the oppressive measures enacted against the Belarusian people.

Jurij Čyžas, once regarded as the key oligarch for the Lukashenko regime, accumulated wealth from sectors such as energy and those closely tied to the government. Following the rise of the regime and subsequent sanctions imposed in March 2012, it has been stated that his two sons, Vladimir and Sergei, received Lithuanian citizenship when they were just twelve years old. The citizenship was granted based on Lithuanian descent through a recovery procedure—one of the few administrative avenues available to non-Lithuanian nationals seeking citizenship.

This situation raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the security checks conducted by the VSD and the implications of granting citizenship to individuals closely tied to a regime noted for its human rights abuses. As tensions grow between the EU and Belarus, the case of Čyžas's sons also illustrates the complexities involved in citizenship laws and the scrutiny surrounding individuals associated with problematic regimes.