The Lithuanian Ministry of Internal Affairs has directed the immigration service to begin the process of potentially stripping ballerina Ilze Liepa of Lithuanian citizenship, the agency reported through Baltic News Service.
The ministry stated that Liepa’s public remarks have harmed the state’s reputation. The comments cited relate to support for Russia’s military operation in Ukraine and for Vladimir Putin.
The Lithuanian Immigration Service has consulted with competent authorities to review Liepa’s statements. If her actions are judged to threaten Lithuania’s national security, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will submit a formal request to President Gitanas Nausėda to revoke her citizenship.
Liepa is the daughter of Soviet ballerina Maris Liepa, who was of Latvian origin. Liepa herself was a soloist with the Bolshoi Theatre from 1981 to 2016 and received the title of People’s Artist of Russia in 2002.
Liepa was granted Lithuanian citizenship in 2000 under exceptional circumstances. Lithuanian law allows citizenship to be revoked if the holder’s actions threaten national security or if they publicly support a state that threatens Lithuania and its allies.
What Liepa said
In 2022 Liepa appeared on a video hosted by a channel run by an independent content creator, where she voiced support for the military operation in Ukraine.
She stated that she trusted the president’s statements and acknowledged that opponents claim the Kremlin is influencing minds, but she emphasized that everyone ultimately makes their own choice.
She described the conflict as a clash of deeply held meanings and values and suggested that Ukraine had become a bargaining chip. She expressed regret for the upheavals, noting a personal attachment to the region due to past performances but also asserting that Russia had no alternative.
Liepa criticized the demolition of monuments in the Baltic states and said she felt shame and sorrow for those actions. She characterized Baltic residents as being held hostage by a small ruling group, while praising Russian leadership under Vladimir Putin as fortunate.
She explained that she did not leave the country because of patriotism and identification with Russian heritage and faith, insisting she would stand by her country regardless of circumstances.
She described some losses as a cleansing process that could help Russians regain unity, and she touched on censorship in Russia, arguing that ideology helps define a state’s direction and values. She mentioned that great cultural achievements occurred when censorship existed but cautioned that current times feel different, though she did not view it as equivalent to extreme censorship of the past.
Liepa argued that without a clear ideological framework outlining the state’s direction and the values it supports, progress becomes impossible.
This isn’t the first time this has happened
Earlier, a Lithuanian president issued a decree revoking the citizenship of a Russian figure skater who had received Lithuanian citizenship as an exception in 1993. The decision was tied to the skater’s involvement with a public figure linked to the Russian state and her collaboration with a prominent figure connected to Russian leadership.
The skater publicly challenged the decision, saying that renouncing family or homeland to retain citizenship would not be his path. Lithuanian authorities noted that a significant number of Russians had obtained citizenship under exceptional terms, and the ministry signaled plans to seek closer oversight of these individuals through state security channels.
Since the start of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, the Lithuanian authorities have identified a number of residents whose status they consider a security risk, and the process of revocation or reassessment continues to be a subject of national policy and public debate.
[citation needed by Baltic News Service for timeline and actions reported; this summary reflects official statements and public reactions across Lithuanian governance and security sectors.]