Lithuanian court confirms legality of deportation of journalist Vladimir Vodo

The Vilnius Chamber of the Regional Administrative Court has confirmed the decision of the Migration Department to revoke the residence permit in Lithuania of Russian citizen Vladimir Vodo, the Baltiya portal reported. According to Lithuania's Department of State Security (DSS), Vodo poses a threat to the country's national security and he will be deported to Russia.

"The court recognized that the decision of the Migration Department was reasonable and based on clear facts and laws. Although the plaintiff disagrees with the Migration Department's assessment, the court concluded that the decision was lawful," said court spokesperson Sigita Gamulenene.

The court's decision can be appealed within 14 days to the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania. Vodo argues that his ties to Lithuania, including family and social ties, should have been taken into account when making the decision. Vodo claims that he has particularly close family and social ties to Lithuania, having worked in Lithuania as a journalist since 1989, speaks excellent Lithuanian, and has completely severed all ties with the country in which he was born.

However, the Lithuanian DGB believes that Vodo, who worked as a journalist in Lithuania, poses a threat to state security because his views are allegedly disloyal to Lithuania and he disseminates Russian propaganda information on social media.