Sons of Belarusian Oligarch Yuri Chizh Renounced Lithuanian Citizenship

The two sons of Yuri Chizh, a Belarusian businessman with close ties to Alexander Lukashenko, relinquished their Lithuanian citizenship in September 2023, according to a joint investigation by Lithuanian and Belarusian journalists. Uladzimir and Sjarhej Čiži had been granted Lithuanian citizenship 12 years prior, while their father was already subject to European Union sanctions.

Citizenship Through Ancestry

The sons were eligible for Lithuanian citizenship due to their maternal grandmother’s pre-World War II citizenship in the Republic of Lithuania. Lithuanian law allows individuals with ancestors who were citizens of Lithuania before the war to claim citizenship, even while retaining their existing nationality.

Security Checks and Revocation

The Lithuanian Department of State Security conducted standard checks on Uladzimir and Sjarhej Čiži during the citizenship application process but identified no security risks. Though, their citizenship was revoked in September 2023 by order of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Vladislav Kondratovič.

Yuri Chizh’s Background

Yury Chyzh, born in 1963, is a Belarusian businessman considered one of the wealthiest in the country. He founded the company Triple in 1994, which operates in construction and the production of building materials, and later expanded into beverages, aluminum construction, and transportation. He likewise owns the Rakauski brovar restaurant and brewery in Minsk. Yury Chyzh was added to the EU’s travel ban list in March 2012 due to alleged ties to the Lukashenko regime.

Business Dealings and Wealth

As of 2013, Chyzh’s wealth was estimated at $200 million, with ownership of petrochemical companies Neonafta, Trayplenergo, and Belneftegaz, as well as 18 companies under the Triple Group. Investigations have revealed that Chyzh and his Lithuanian business partner, Vitold Tomaševskij, were involved in reselling Russian oil as solvents between 2011 and 2012, evading export duties and generating over $5 billion in profits.

Recent Business Troubles

Recent reports from late 2025 indicate that Chizh and another Belarusian businessman, Alexander Shakutin, are facing financial difficulties and the potential loss of their remaining assets in Russia. The last remaining valuable Russian company owned by Chizh is reportedly undergoing bankruptcy proceedings.