Journalist Vladimir Vodo deported from Lithuania to Russia

Vladimir Vodo, a Russian citizen, was deported from Lithuania to Russia on May 24, 2024. The day before, he was detained in Vilnius and placed in the Alien Registration Center in Pabrada. After formalities were completed, Vodo was taken to the border and sent to Russia.

On May 15, the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania confirmed the possibility of deportation of Vodo, who had lived in Lithuania since 1989 and had a residence permit until 2027. Earlier, on March 20, the Vilnius Regional Administrative Court upheld the Migration Department's decision to revoke his residence permit and deport him.

The Lithuanian Department of State Security (DSS) determined that Vodo posed a threat to the country's security by spreading propaganda information on social media and showing disloyalty to Lithuania.

Vodo claimed that he had close family and social ties to Lithuania, had worked in Lithuania since 1989 as a journalist, was fluent in the Lithuanian language, and had completely severed all ties with Russia, but the courts found this insufficient to overturn the deportation decision.