Some 10 people from Central Asian countries have been denied entry to Lithuania due to ties with terrorist organisations and the potential for radicalization, Darius Jauniškis, the outgoing director of the State Security Department (VSD), said on Sunday.
"There are certain ethnic groups from specific countries – I won't name them now – who are prone to radicalisation," Jauniškis told an LRT TV program.
"I can provide some numbers: about ten people have been denied entry to Lithuania or had permits revoked, specifically from Central Asian countries, because they had certain links to terrorist organisations or were strongly inclined toward radicalisation. These are people we had evidence on," he said.
The outgoing intelligence chief noted that there is a high likelihood of radicalisation among migrants from Central Asia and South Asia in Lithuania.
"The Muslim [community] is vulnerable to certain forms of radicalisation and we can't rule out that this could lead to problems in the future," Jauniškis said.
"We should seriously review our immigration policy and oversee how we integrate these people, ensuring they remain satisfied and don't pose a threat in the long run," he added.
Amid an increase in the number of migrants from Central Asian countries in Lithuania in recent years, the VSD has previously warned of risks due to the potential rise in Islamic radicalism.
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