Ukrainians without temporary protection can now only work in Lithuania if they have a valid residence permit, BNS reports. Previously, Ukrainian nationals with visas were exempt from having to obtain a work permit in Lithuania. The exemption will continue to apply to highly qualified workers. Ukrainian refugees can start working immediately after submitting an application…
Estonia’s Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) has granted student visas to 646 foreigners for the academic year 2024/2025, ERR reports. Of the total, 65 are from China, 53 from the US, and 51 from Azerbaijan. PPA refused visas to 114 foreign students, including 28 from Nigeria, 22 from Pakistan, and 10 from India. The…
Political leaders of Baltic Sea countries criticised the US strategy on the war in Ukraine at the GLOBSEC 2024 Forum in Prague, The Baltic Sentinel reported. Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur stressed the need for strategic clarity: “We want Ukraine to win, not just to fight,” he stated. Speaking to the Kyiv Independent, Latvian Defence…
Most drivers in Latvia exceed the speed limit daily, according to a Norstat poll for insurance company ERGO, BNS reports. The survey showed that 67% of Latvian drivers violate speed limits every day, including 74% of male and 60% of female drivers. Meanwhile, 48% of drivers have never been ticketed for speeding, while 42% have…
Altogether 5,500 people in Lithuania have registered at command posts or special command offices as national defence volunteers, RBC-Ukraine reports, citing Polskie Radio. The registration process ended on 31 August 2024. Over 2,500 of the registered volunteers come from the Vilnius region. The volunteers will undergo selection and then begin specialised training in October 2024….
Latvia’s State Security Service (VDD) has conducted searches at two locations related to former MEP Tatjana Zdanoka (Tatyana Zhdanok) of the Latvian Russian Union (LKS), LETA reports. VDD confiscated data carriers, notes, and documents for further analysis. VDD confirmed that the searches were part of a criminal investigation into Zdanoka’s possible cooperation with Russian intelligence…
US presence in Europe and the Baltic region is the best deterrent against Russia, contributing to stability in the whole region, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda stated, BNS reports. Speaking at the European Political Community summit in the UK, Nauseda said that if former US president Donald Trump won the US presidential elections in November 2024,…
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina urged European countries to “resist Russian evil,” saying that this would help increase security and prosperity in the continent, LSM reports. Speaking at the European Political Community (EPC) summit in the UK, Silina called on Europe to provide more military, financial, and political support to Ukraine. She said that European…
The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has voted in favour of withdrawing from the Convention on Cluster Munitions, with 103 MPs in favour, 1 against, and 3 abstentions, BNS reports. Once President Gitanas Nauseda signs the law, Lithuania will withdraw from the convention six months after notification. Defence Minister Laurynas Kasciunas argued that the convention restricted…