The Lithuanian Seimas has toughened penalties for sabotage, espionage, and fighting on the side of Russia
The Lithuanian Seimas has voted to increase criminal penalties for sabotage, espionage, and participation in armed conflicts on the side of the aggressor.
This was reported by LRT.
On March 19, 2026, 101 deputies voted in favor of the relevant amendments to the Criminal Code. The bill, initiated by the Ministry of Justice, aims to address legal loopholes amid growing hybrid threats and the changed security situation in the region.
Under the new provisions, the following penalties are established:
for sabotage—the destruction or damage of critical infrastructure with the intent to harm Lithuania’s interests—a prison term of 2 to 8 years;
for participating in hostilities on the side of an aggressor state against the independence and territorial integrity of another country—3 to 10 years of imprisonment;
for carrying out tasks for foreign intelligence services or organizations controlled by foreign states (in the absence of evidence of espionage)—5 to 15 years in prison.
The document, adopted in the first reading, will now be reviewed by the parliamentary committee on law and order. Minister of Justice Rita Tamašūnienė emphasized that these changes are a necessary response to attempts by hostile states to use Lithuanian citizens for subversive activities. The new regulations will allow Lithuanian law enforcement agencies to respond more effectively to actions that threaten national security and the constitutional order of the republic.
Earlier in Lithuania, the Klaipėda District Court sentenced two citizens to prison for spying on behalf of Russia. The convicts received prison terms ranging from 1.5 to 4 years.
The Klaipėda District Court sentenced Lithuanian citizen Romanas Šešelis to seven years in prison. He was recruited and spied on behalf of Russian intelligence agencies.
