American ice dancer Allison Reed has submitted a new application to be granted Lithuanian citizenship by way of exception after she won a bronze medal at the European Figure Skating Championships with her Lithuanian dance partner Saulius Ambrulevicius in January.
“We can confirm that Allison Reed has submitted her documents through the MIGRIS (Lithuanian Migration Information System – BNS) system to obtain citizenship,” Laura Sauciukovaite-Astrauskiene, secretary general of the Lithuanian Skating Federation, told BNS on Thursday.
According to information available to BNS, the ice dancer plans to arrive in Lithuania in late February and submit the original documents.
So far, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has rejected Reed’s request for Lithuanian citizenship granted by way of exception twice – last year and the year before, saying that had failed to prove her outstanding merits to the Republic of Lithuania.
Speaking in January, however, the president said the citizenship situation changed after A. Reed and S. Ambrulevicius won bronze medals at the European Figure Skating Championships.
Under the law, the president he may grant citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania by way of exception to citizens of other states or stateless persons for outstanding merits to the Republic of Lithuania, who have integrated into the Lithuanian society.
Outstanding merits to the Republic of Lithuania are defined as any activities of a foreign citizen or a stateless person, which significantly contribute to the consolidation of the statehood of the Republic of Lithuania, as well as to the strengthening of its power and authority in the international community.
Source: BNS
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