REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA

REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA LAW ON THE STATE BORDER OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA CHAPTER 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS Article

1. The State Border of the Republic of Lithuania The State Border of the Republic of Lithuania is the line and the vertical surface lying along this line, defining the limits of the territory of the Republic of Lithuania -its land, waters, entrails of the earth, and air space. The state border of the Republic of Lithuania is inviolable. The state border of the Republic of Lithuania may be realigned only by an international agreement to which the Republic of Lithuania is a party. Article
2. Protection of the State Border of the Republic of Lithuania The protection of the state border shall be the aggregate of measures guaranteeing the inviolability of the state border. The protection of the state border shall be ensured by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania pursuant to this Law and other laws of the Republic of Lithuania. Article
3. The State Border of the Republic of Lithuania The state border of the Republic of Lithuania shall run: 1) on land -- according to a line passing the points established by international agreement; 2) in the sea -- according to a line which limits territorial sea; 3) in navigable rivers until the delta -- through the centre of the fairway; in non-navigable rivers (rivulets) through the centre of the river or the riverbed; in lakes or other bodies of water -- according to the line which connects the intersections of the state border with the shoreline of a lake or other body of water. The state borderline of the Republic of Lithuania running through rivers (rivulets), lakes or any other bodies of water shall not change when the riverbed or water level in the lake or other water body changes; 4) through bridges or other structures passing over frontier water bodies -- along the centre or technological axis. In districts, the state border of the Republic of Lithuania shall be marked by frontier signs. The form, size, and posting procedure of frontier signs shall be established by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, pursuant to the laws and international agreements to which the Republic of Lithuania is a party. Article
4. The Territorial Sea of the Republic of Lithuania The territorial sea of the Republic of Lithuania shall be the waters seaward to a line 12 nautical miles distant from the Lithuanian coastline. The extent of the territorial sea shall be measured from the straight line drawn between the two outermost points of the shoreline. The geographical coordinates of these points shall be approved by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. An international agreement of the Republic of Lithuania may establish a different limit of the territorial sea of the Republic of Lithuania. Article
5. The Internal Waters of the Republic of Lithuania The internal waters of the Republic of Lithuania shall be: 1) sea waters extending landward from the territorial sea; 2) port waters limited by the line connecting the most remote points of hydro-technical or other port structures in the sea; and 3) rivers, lakes, bays and other bodies of water, the shores of which belong to the Republic of Lithuania. CHAPTER 2 THE STATE BORDER REGIME OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA Article
6. The State Border Regime of the Republic of Lithuania The state border regime shall be: 1) the procedure for crossing the state border; 2) the procedure for the carrying of freight and other goods across the state border; 3) the procedure for the navigation and sojourn of Lithuanian and foreign vessels in territorial sea and in the Lithuanian part of waters of frontier rivers, lakes, bays, or other bodies, as well as the procedure for entry and presence of foreign vessels in the internal waters and ports of Lithuania; 4) the procedure for aircraft flights; 5) the procedure for maintaining the state border, and for carrying out various jobs, commercial and other activities at the state border. The state border regime of the Republic of Lithuania specified in this law shall be established by this and other laws of the Republic of Lithuania, as well as by standard acts and international agreements to which the Republic of Lithuania is a party. Article
7. Crossing Points of the State Border of the Republic of Lithuania The crossing points of the state border of the Republic of Lithuania shall be established by international agreement to which the Republic of Lithuania is a party, or by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. Border check posts and customs posts shall be established at the crossing points of the state border of the Republic of Lithuania, as well as at the international sea or river ports and airports. Article
8. Procedure for Persons and Motor Vehicles Crossing the State Border of the Republic of Lithuania and for the Carrying of Freight and Other Goods Across the State Border The state border of the Republic of Lithuania may be crossed only at the established points. Persons crossing the state border must present their passports or any other documents conforming to international requirements to passport control. Foreign citizens crossing the state border of the Republic of Lithuania must have a visa of the Republic of Lithuania. The Government of the Republic of Lithuania, provided that the Supreme Council has no objections, may establish a simpler procedure for foreign citizens crossing the state border of the Republic of Lithuania. Persons, motor vehicles and freight shall be permitted to cross the border after customs inspection. Article
9. Procedure for Crossing the Border by Aircraft Airplanes and other aircraft shall cross the state border of the Republic of Lithuania by special air corridors in accordance with the rules established by this Law and other laws of the Republic of Lithuania, international agreements to which the Republic of Lithuania is a party, and by competent state institutions. An aircraft or airplane may cross the state border of the Republic of Lithuania by ways other than the air corridor only upon obtaining prior permission from an institution authorized by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. Upon entering into the airspace of the Republic of Lithuania, aircraft may land or take off for departure only in or from international airports. Article
10. Peaceful Navigation in the Territorial Sea of the Republic of Lithuania Navigation in the territorial sea of the Republic of Lithuania shall be considered peaceful when there is no intention to enter the internal waters of the Republic of Lithuania or when there is intention to enter or leave the internal waters or ports of the Republic of Lithuania. During peaceful navigation, a vessel may stop or come to anchor if it is necessary for regular navigation or when rendering aid to persons, vessels or aircraft in distress. Sea vessels or river boats shall cross the state border of the Republic of Lithuania according to the procedure established by this and other laws of the Republic of Lithuania, international agreements to which the Republic of Lithuania is a party, as well as by rules established by competent state institutions. Those states, which have been granted authorization for the peaceful navigation of foreign warships, shall also be granted the right to peaceful navigation in the territorial sea of the Republic of Lithuania according to the standard act of the Republic of Lithuania. The Government of the Republic of Lithuania may designate sea corridors for vessels carrying dangerous cargo, tankers, and ships with nuclear engines. Authorized state institutions shall establish special rules for the navigation of such vessels, providing them with sea charts with clearly marked sea corridors. While crossing the state border of the Republic of Lithuania and during navigation in the territorial sea of the Republic of Lithuania, foreign submarines and other submarine transport must be on the surface and must display the national flag of their state. Article
11. Procedure for Entry of Foreign Vessels into the Internal Waters and Ports of the Republic of Lithuania Foreign vessels shall have the right to enter the roads and ports of the Republic of Lithuania, the list of which shall be established by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. State institutions authorized by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall establish: 1) the rules for entry and sojourn of foreign vessels in the internal waters, roads and ports of the Republic of Lithuania; 3 2) the rules for servicing passengers and cargo; 3) the rules for the communication between vessels and shore, and disembarkation of the crew members of a vessel; 4) the procedure for visiting a vessel by persons who are not free members of a crew; 5) the rules for entry and sojourn of foreign vessels in the internal waters and ports of the Republic of Lithuania in the Lithuanian part of waters of frontier rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. Article
12. Prohibition of Carrying Nuclear or Other Weapons of Mass Destruction Across the State Border of the Republic of Lithuania It shall be prohibited to carry nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction across the state border of the Republic of Lithuania by any means of transport. Article
13. Military Transit across the State Border of the Republic of Lithuania Army contingents of a foreign state and military freight may be carried in transit across the state border of the Republic of Lithuania only according to the procedure established by an international agreement to which the Republic of Lithuania is a party. Article
14. Temporary Restrictions or Closure of Communication across the State Border Due to the Spreading of Infectious Diseases In the event of a threat of the spreading of a particularly dangerous infectious diseases in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania or of a foreign state, the Government of the Republic of Lithuania may: 1) temporarily restrict or close communication across the state border; 2) enforce quarantine on persons, cattle, birds, and animals crossing the border, as well as on vegetable or animal products and on other freight being carried across the border. Article
15. Violators of the State Border of the Republic of Lithuania Violators of the state border shall be: 1) persons who violate the procedure of crossing the state border while crossing or attempting to cross the state border of the Republic of Lithuania; 2) foreign vessels that violate the established rules of entry upon entering into the territorial sea or the internal waters of the Republic of Lithuania as well as into the Lithuanian part of waters of frontier rivers, lakes, or other bodies; 3) airplanes or other aircraft that cross the state border of the Republic of Lithuania without consent or that otherwise violate the rules of crossing the state border of the Republic of Lithuania; 4) means of land transport that cross the state border of the Republic of Lithuania without consent or that otherwise violate the rules of crossing the state border of the Republic of Lithuania. Article
16. Institution of Legal Actions against Violators of State Border Violators of the state border of the Republic of Lithuania shall be pursued and apprehended pursuant to the laws of the Republic of Lithuania. Persons who have violated the Law on State Borders of the Republic of Lithuania shall be liable according to the laws of the Republic of Lithuania. Foreign citizens who have violated the state border of the Republic of Lithuania may be extradited from the territory of the Republic of Lithuania. CHAPTER 3 FINAL PROVISIONS Article
17. The Procedure for the Publication of Documents Regulating the Regime of State Border of the Republic of Lithuania Documents regulating the crossing of the state border of the Republic of Lithuania shall be made available to the public ac cording to the general procedure established for the publication of standard acts. They may also be published in special information bulletins. Article
18. International Agreements Establishing other Norms Provided that an international agreement to which the Republic of Lithuania is a party establishes other norms or rules than this law, the norms and rules established by this agreement shall be applied. Vytautas Landsbergis President Supreme Council Republic of Lithuania Vilnius 25 June 1992 No.I-2671