Investigations reveal that two sons of a sanctioned Belarusian oligarch held Lithuanian citizenship for over a decade, raising questions about the monitoring processes of Lithuanian intelligence.
An independent investigation revealed that the sons of sanctioned Belarusian oligarchs, Vladimir and Sergei Chyzh, were granted Lithuanian citizenship over ten years ago despite concerns that their citizenship should have been checked by Lithuanian intelligence. The State Security Department (VSD) completed these checks without identifying any risks, which raises significant questions about the vetting process for citizenship approval in such sensitive contexts.
This issue came to light following the Chyzh brothers' decision to renounce their Lithuanian passports in 2025, a choice confirmed by Interior Minister Vladislavas Kondratovičius. The timing of their citizenship approval is particularly noteworthy as it occurred one year after their father, J. Chyzh, was subjected to European Union sanctions, underlining the complexities of international sanctions and national security assessments.
The specific reasons for the brothers’ renouncement of citizenship remain unclear, as both Vladimir and Sergei Chyzh did not respond to requests for comments on their decision. The approval process for their Lithuanian citizenship was facilitated by former Interior Minister Dailis Alfonsas Barakauskas, further implicating the political oversight involved in citizenship grants to individuals connected to sanctioned entities.
