Lithuania No longer issues visas to Russians even for Health Care Services

Lithuania No longer issues visas to Russians even for Health Care Services

As a response to the conflict in Ukraine in Ukraine, in response to the war, the Lithuanian government has stopped issuing visas for Russian citizens, and also to patients seeking medical treatment in the country.

As per the Lithuanian Health Ministry, Russian citizens won't be allowed to travel to Lithuania for health-related services like diagnostic exams as well as inpatient or surgical procedures. Furthermore, Russians won't be able to obtain permits if the purpose of entry is to nurse close relatives who reside in Lithuania Visaoperations reports.

"In support of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people who are suffering attacks from Russia Russian Federation, the Ministry of Health has suspended the issuance of permits to travel to Lithuania for residents from Russia. Russian Federation on an exceptional basis," the press announcement reads.

Alongside Lithuania government officials in the Czech Republic have also stopped giving visas to Russian citizens in response to the invading of Ukraine. The announcement was made by Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala. He also declared that the closing of all Czech consulates will be closed in Saint Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.

He also noted the fact that Russian consulates operating in Czech cities Brno as well as Karlovy Vary have been suspended and are now closed.

"We have suspended any processing for visas for Russian citizens at all of the consular offices, except for emergencies," PM Fiala declared.

The Latvian Foreign Minister, Edgars Rinkevics, also announced that the country will not issue visas for Russian citizens, unless in situations that involve urgent humanitarian concerns. Riga Latvia's capital has also placed a block on three Russian TV channels for three up to 5 years.

"We have taken our choice... due to the fact that they could be an imminent threat to the security in Latvia," Ivars Abolins, the head of the Latvian television agency for watchdogs NEPLP said to AFP that the channels were "propaganda".

Additionally, Janusz Cieszynski, the Polish government's highest official responsible for digital technology, said that Russian channels will cease to be broadcast in Poland as well as Russia Today.

As per the United Nations, 240 civilians suffered casualties from the fighting which included at most 64 killed, though there is a belief that the actual figures could be higher, but can't be accurately recorded due to the high number of casualties.

The Ukrainian military has announced that at minimum, 4500 Russian soldiers have been killed. The Russian government acknowledged that some of its soldiers were wounded and killed. But the casualties are much greater than those on the Ukrainian side.