The argument from Lithuania as I understand it that purging Russians reduces the 'protecting Russians abroad' narrative from Putin. Though it does mean one less place where Russians who oppose Putin can go while also displacing potentially thousands of Russians into Putin's other narrative that western/NATO powers are out to get them.

Hope this maneuver pays off, I guess.

[–] Gammelfisch@lemmy.world 9 points 5 days ago

Bravo Lithuania! The rest of the EU and ECC should do the same until Russia somehow becomes a normal country.

[–] Commiunism@beehaw.org 7 points 6 days ago (9 children)

I dunno chat, as a Lithuanian (as if it matters) this feels like a bit of an over reach in a war on terror in US type of way. This isn't the only law that explicitly targets Russians/Belarussians as a security threat that has been enacted.

These people are often just nationals, citizens of their country and not automatically foreign agents. If they were here doing espionage, they would report back using encrypted channels on the internet which is much cheaper than traveling back and forth. If they were smuggling tools for terrorism like bombs, it's much easier to smuggle them over the border or even obtain them locally than having the foreign agent themselves smuggle.

I can't help but view it as discriminatory in a similar way how Muslim and Arab populations were treated post-9/11, it just doesn't make much sense unless I'm missing something.

[–] FundMECFSResearch@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Same. I’m in western europe, I have a couple friends who are Russian and oppose the invasion.

The male ones haven’t gone back to see their family because they fear conscription.

Those who can go back to see family are super cautious and scared because they don’t wanna be sent to gulag.

It’d be a shame if they got another barrier to going home they had to worry about.

[–] Lumiluz@slrpnk.net 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Much cheaper, but not more secure.

Excluding that, if my country had started a territorial way of aggression, and I was now living in a country that's been threatened by said country in the recent past as well, I wouldn't be traveling back, let alone often.

Combined with actual continual examples of Russians not only spying but carrying out assassinations in foreign countries (like the UK) and sabotaging infrastructure almost every month, and if anything, this is pretty light retaliation.

[–] Commiunism@beehaw.org 3 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

You personally wouldn't travel back and forth, but this doesn't necessarily apply to everyone - there were and still are a decent amount of Russian nationals working/living here with their families, distant or otherwise, still living back home in Russia/Belarus. No matter your nationality, you might want to go back to your home country and visit your family. What if there's an emergency/funeral you have to attend after visiting? It might not be a valid reason to go back (given how vague the articles are), and you might lose your residence because of it. It's only one example of course, but there definitely are more scenarios like this one.

Also, reading one of the news articles, counter-terrorism prevention isn't even mentioned once, and it wouldn't make sense given how I already outlined how it would be easier to get tools for terrorism locally, much safely too given how you don't have to go through security that scrutinizes you more due to war-time, not to mention it doesn't prevent terrorism from foreign agents who don't own a residence here. If anything, the article mentions how these methods are there to further sanction Russia, to show solidarity to Ukraine and "limit specific Russian/Belarusian citizen rights".

[–] endeavor@sopuli.xyz 2 points 5 days ago (4 children)

Those legit people can apply for citizenship.

This is lithuania not russia. Russia needs to make living comfortable for russians, not lithuania. Lithuanias job is to provide security for it's citizens and ensure the survival of lithuanian culture. There is citizenship for people who like that and want that, no matter what country you frequent.

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