Latest news with #SecurityThreat
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
EU state could ban Russian citizens from politics
Lithuanian conservatives have proposed banning Russian passport holders from serving as founders, members, or donors of political parties. The bill, drafted by the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TSLKD), the country's largest opposition party, would also require political parties to disclose members with multiple citizenships. The authors argue that nationals from Russia, Belarus, and China, which are designated as 'hostile states' by the Lithuanian government, pose a security threat. 'Citizens of hostile states, particularly those connected to Russian oligarchs, may exert influence through political parties,' bill co-author Dalia Asanaviciute said, according to LRT. She claimed that 'Russia allocates significant resources to interfere in democratic and political processes globally, with a focus on our region.' According to LRT, the bill was prompted by a report stating that Alvydas Brusokas, co-founder and donor of the Dawn of Nemunas party, holds dual Lithuanian-Russian citizenship. For centuries, Lithuania was part of the Russian Empire, and from 1940 to 1991, it was a republic within the Soviet Union. Ethnic Russians make up around 5% of the country's population of 2.89 million. Around 14,500 Russian citizens have residency permits in Lithuania, some of whom left Russia for political reasons. As one of the most vocal supporters of Ukraine, Lithuania has been at the forefront of demanding tougher sanctions on Moscow. Earlier this year, the country passed a law allowing the revocation of residency for people who frequently travel to Russia or Belarus 'without objective reasons.' Conservatives also called for an amendment allowing the stripping of Lithuanian citizenship for supporting Russia in the conflict with Ukraine. Moscow has described Lithuania's attempts to portray Russia as a threat as 'incitement of Russophobia.'
Russia Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
EU state could block Russian citizens from politics
Lithuania's conservatives have proposed banning Russian passport holders from serving as founders, members or donors of political parties. The bill, drafted by the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TSLKD), the country's largest opposition party, would also require political parties to disclose members with multiple citizenships. The authors argue that nationals from Russia, Belarus and China, which are designated as 'hostile states' by the Lithuanian government, pose a security threat. 'Citizens of hostile states, particularly those connected to Russian oligarchs, may exert influence through political parties,' said bill co-author Dalia Asanaviciute, according to LRT. She claimed that 'Russia allocates significant resources to interfere in democratic and political processes globally, with a focus on our region.' According to LRT, the bill was prompted by a report stating that Alvydas Brusokas, co-founder and donor of the Dawn of Nemunas party, holds dual Lithuanian-Russian citizenship. For centuries, Lithuania was part of the Russian Empire, and between 1940 and 1991, it was a republic within the Soviet Union. Ethnic Russians make up around 5% of the country's population of 2.89 million. Around 14,500 Russian citizens have residency permits in Lithuania, some of whom left Russia for political reasons. As one of the most vocal supporters of Ukraine, Lithuania has been at the forefront of demanding tougher sanctions on Moscow. Earlier this year, the country passed a law allowing the revocation of residency for people who frequently travel to Russia or Belarus 'without objective reasons.' Conservatives also called for an amendment allowing the stripping of Lithuanian citizenship for supporting Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. Moscow has described Lithuania's attempts to portray Russia as a threat as 'incitement of Russophobia.'
Telegraph
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Germany foils Iranian plot to attack Jews
Germany has foiled an Iranian plot to attack Israelis and Jewish community leaders. Jens Rommel, the federal prosecutor, said police had arrested 'Ali S', a Danish citizen of Afghan origin, on suspicion of carrying out surveillance of potential targets. Ali S is accused of taking photographs of buildings, including the German-Israeli Society and a house linked to Josef Schuster, the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany. According to Der Spiegel, the German magazine, Ali S was recruited by the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the elite Iranian military unit formerly led by Qassim Soleimani and now by Esmail Ghaani. Soleimani was assassinated by the United States in 2020. Ghaani is understood be alive, despite reports that he was killed last month during the Iran-Israel missile exchanges. The Quds Force reports directly to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran. Mr Schuster said he was shocked by the news of an apparent attempt on his life. 'The arrest of a suspected spy for the Iranian terror regime, who is said to have spied on Jewish and Israeli facilities in Germany, is a clear alarm signal,' he said. 'This successful interception must be a final signal, to all those who underestimate the hatred and destruction fantasies held by the Mullah regime towards Israel and Jews across the world.' Volker Beck, the president of the German-Israeli Society, said he wished to thank the German security services for their vigilance. He added: 'That Iran prepares and plans these attacks on Jewish representatives and pro-Israel activists is a clear sign of the terrorist nature of this regime.' The arrest came after Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire last week, ending a 12-day conflict that killed an estimated 1,000 Iranians and at least 29 Israelis. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, launched a salvo of airstrikes on key Iranian military facilities and its nuclear programme, which Israel regards as an existential threat. The conflict ended when Donald Trump, the US president, struck three Iranian nuclear facilities on the ninth day of the war and secured a ceasefire.
Al Arabiya
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Israel says world must respond ‘decisively' to Iran nuclear non-compliance
Israel has urged the international community to 'respond decisively' and prevent its long-time foe Iran from developing nuclear weapons after the United Nations nuclear watchdog found Tehran in 'non-compliance' with its obligations. 'Iran has consistently obstructed IAEA's verification and monitoring, it removed inspectors, and it sanitized and concealed suspected undeclared locations in Iran,' Israel's foreign ministry said on X. 'These actions undermine the global non-proliferation regime and pose an imminent threat to regional and international security and stability.'
