The Lithuanian Seimas has expanded the list of people who can be required to undergo a polygraph test. According to LRT, the measure can now also be applied to foreign nationals.
This includes people applying for or renewing a residence permit in Lithuania. A lie detector test may be used only if the Migration Department has reasonable suspicions that the person could pose a threat to national security.
Under the new rules, refusing to take the polygraph will carry a direct consequence: a foreigner who was asked to undergo the test will automatically be considered as posing a security threat.
The amendments do not apply only to foreigners. The new provisions also broaden the grounds for using polygraphs in relation to officials within Lithuania itself.
The authors of the amendments say the changes are meant to strengthen national security measures in view of the geopolitical situation, increased activity by hostile states’ intelligence services, and a growing number of recruitment cases.
After the start of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war, Lithuania significantly reduced the list of grounds on which citizens of Russia and Belarus can obtain residence permits, while also expanding the grounds for revoking them.
In particular, a residence permit can now be withdrawn because of frequent trips to Russia or Belarus.