Sons of Belarusian Oligarch Received Lithuanian Citizenship While Father Faced Sanctions

The sons of Yuri Chizh, a Belarusian businessman once considered close to the Lukashenko regime, were granted Lithuanian citizenship while their father was already subject to European Union sanctions, according to a joint investigation by Belarusian media outlet Bjuro and the Lithuanian journalistic investigation center Siena.

Citizenship Through Maternal Lineage

Uladzimir and Sjarhej Čiži obtained Lithuanian citizenship due to their maternal grandmother’s pre-World War II citizenship in the Republic of Lithuania. This allowed them to claim citizenship while also retaining their existing citizenship, a practice permitted under Lithuanian law.

Security Checks and Subsequent Revocation

Lithuania’s Department of State Security vetted the brothers during the citizenship application process but reportedly found no security risks. However, both Uladzimir and Sjarhej Čiži renounced their Lithuanian citizenship in 2023, and their citizenship was officially revoked in September 2023 by order of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Vladislav Kondratovič. The reasons for their decision to renounce citizenship remain unknown, as they did not respond to inquiries from the investigating journalists.

Yuri Chizh’s History and Current Legal Battles

Yuri Chizh was once regarded as a key oligarch within the Lukashenko regime, earning the nickname “Lukashenko’s purse” due to his extensive wealth accumulated in energy and state-affiliated sectors. He was placed on the EU sanctions list in 2012 in response to the regime’s repressive actions. Despite his sons receiving Lithuanian citizenship a year later, Chizh himself fell into disfavor with the regime in 2015.

Chizh faced multiple detentions in 2016 and 2021-2022 on charges of tax evasion, ultimately receiving a suspended prison sentence in 2023. Currently, he is engaged in legal proceedings against his sons concerning companies transferred to them after the imposition of sanctions.

Related Cases

Alongside Sjarhej Cichanouski, Mikalaj Statkevič, Ihar Losik, Uladzimir Cyhanovič, Dzmitryj Papov, and Arcjom Sakav are also facing legal challenges in Belarus, highlighting the ongoing crackdown on opposition figures.