Lithuania issues permanent residence permits to evacuated Afghan helpers

VILNIUS – Afghan interpreters and their family members evacuated to Lithuania and accommodated in Raseiniai have been issued with permanent residence permits, the district's mayor said on Friday. 

"The permanent residence permits are already in the hands of the Afghans," Raseiniai District Mayor Andrius Bautronis posted on Facebook. 

"Today, Edita Auriliene, head of the Taurage Division of the Migration Department, and her colleagues handed over the official documents to all the [Afghan] people," he added.

The Afghans themselves will now be able to choose where they want to live, according to the mayor. 

Over 170 Afghans – interpreters who had worked for the Lithuania contingent and their family members – were evacuated to Lithuania in August following the Taliban's seizure of control of their country.  

The evacuated Afghan nationals were temporarily accommodated in the western district of Raseiniai. In late September, the Migration Department decided to grant them political asylum.

In Raseiniai, the Afghans are entitled to an integration program and certain allowances, and can start working.