Council of Europe threatens Lithuania with sanctions over former KGB reservists

The Council of Europe has emphatically recommended Lithuania not to put limitations for the right of the former reservists of the KGB, the Soviet secret service, to be employed at the government agencies.

If Vilnius fails to listen to the recommendations, the Council of Europe can impose sanctions against the Baltic country.

The Lithuanian parliament is currently reviewing the amendments to the law that sets out these limitations.

The employment ban for the former KGB reservists was introduced two years ago, when the published list of the Soviet special service’s reservists included the former foreign minister Antanas Valionis and the acting chief of the state security department Arvidas Pocjus.

Lithuanian lawmakers are expected to take a final decision after the presentation of an alternative legislation.