The government agrees that more people born in exile could get the status of exile

This week, the Cabinet of Ministers basically approved such amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Persons Victims of the Occupations of 1939-1990, which are being considered in the Seimas. They were initiated by the conservative Angelė Jakavonytė with several dozen other parliamentarians from different factions.

Persons born before December 31, 1964 in the families of former political prisoners or exiles outside of Lithuania would receive the status of exile, if at least one of the parents was a political prisoner or exile at the time, whose imprisonment or exile had expired, and who had not returned permanently before the birth of the child. to live in Lithuania.

The Ministry of Social Security and Labor (SADM) estimates that following the adoption of the amendments, regarding 400 persons might acquire the status of exile. The changes are proposed to take effect from July this year.

Currently, persons born in exile in the families of political prisoners or exiles can receive the victim status, when there is no archival evidence that the parents were allowed to return and live in Lithuania, or the possibilities were limited – registration of the place of residence, employment, etc., are limited, these circumstances are substantiated with documents.

The initiators of the corrections point out that some of those born in exile in the families of exiles and political prisoners cannot receive exile status, because they do not know the exact circumstances of the family’s non-return to live in Lithuania, and they do not have any documents proving that their parents were restrained and limited in their ability to return to Lithuania, because the parents of the majority are already dead.

Persons equated with exiles would acquire the right to receive the state pension of victims, therefore, for the second half of this year, regarding 28,000 people would be needed. additional euros from the budget.

According to the SADM’s calculation, this year, regarding 120 persons might acquire the right to the state pension of victims, and from 2025 to 2028, another 70 persons might be entitled every year.