The sons of prominent Belarusian businessman Yury Chyzh held Lithuanian citizenship. Siarhei Chyzh and Uladzimir Chyzh obtained Lithuanian citizenship in the spring of 2013, at a time when their father was under European Union sanctions. This was reported by the investigative outlets Bureau and Siena.
The grounds for obtaining citizenship were family ties to Lithuania. The Chyzh brothers’ grandmother had been a Lithuanian citizen before the Soviet occupation. Their mother, Sviatlana Chyzh, was born in Lithuania during the occupation period.
At present, Siarhei and Uladzimir Chyzh do not hold Lithuanian passports. They renounced Lithuanian citizenship, according to a decision by Lithuania’s acting interior minister published in September last year.
The full investigation is available in the original publication.