Post on 10-Feb-2017
To: Consul General Darius Gaidys, Los Angeles BCC: Undisclosed From: Grant Gochin Date: May 12, 2016 Consul General, Attached is our analysis of recent denials. We have tried to analyze this data identifying Jewish names. This analysis does not include the people on “pending” or “undecided” status such as my brother –in law – Sean Joffe, or Daniel Lutrin who has assisted with this research. It also does not include the people that just gave up on the process, the data is only cases that have been definitively declined and so reflected in Lithuanian Government records. The process at the Migration Department is ideologically negative, their first and foremost agenda is to decline Litvak applications, on whatever possible grounds they are able to manufacture. My personal experience, and that of many Litvaks that I know, is that applicants meet obstructionism, which is designed simply to deter them from pursuing their cases to a conclusion. The reflected declined cases in the analysis, therefore, are only those where applicants were motivated enough to meet MD obstructionism to conclusion. You may recall that in my case, MD claimed my Grandfather was not my Grandfather, that there could have been two families with the same names, that my Grandfathers’ documents could have belonged to somebody else, that photographs could be fraudulent, etc. Migration Department requires court orders to show minute changes in names which are patently obvious, they reject testimony for incorrect certifications, they have a large array of obstructionist tools, and each obstruction comes with many months delay; their agenda being to exasperate and encourage people to go away. Therefore, I imagine that the list of denials reflects only a small fraction of total applications. After the Lithuanian Supreme Court ruled decisively in my own case, calling MD’s positions “absurd” and “unfounded”, MD came back to me to ask if I also had Israeli citizenship. Israel had never been mentioned in my application, which shows that MD does administer applicants by ethnicity. My case proves that. The Interior Ministry will tell you that they do not use ethnicity as a metric, they are not truthful, MD employees are adept at identifying which applicants are Jewish. MD’s newest Jewish denial strategy is to state that there was no oppression of Litvaks during the Interwar period, and therefore, Jews that left for reasons of oppression or persecution are not eligible for restoration of their Lithuanian citizenship. We know that there was significant anti Semitism during the interwar period, and that a population that had been in Lithuania for 700 years did not suddenly begin to leave without very good reason. I have shown the persecution of my own family through Lithuanian documents in the Lithuanian archives, therefore, the position taken by MD is dishonest and ideological. Citizenship is not available for those that left before 1919, now MD has taken the position that citizenship is not available for Jews that left during the interwar period, and we know that there was a miniscule survival rate for Litvaks on Lithuanian territory, many times, the murders at the hands of ethnic Lithuanians, not Germans. This therefore makes MD’s citizenship policy a Judenrein (Jew free)
policy, a long standing goal of the employees of the Migration Department. In view of Lithuania’s history, this shows the country in very poor light. Latvia administers citizenship applications within one month, Germany and Austria an average of one month, Portugal 4 months, Poland within 6 months, yet of the Litvaks that I know, the fastest processing was two years, the average of the cases I know is 5 years. I have assisted applicants with citizenship applications in many other countries. Italy accepts letters explaining differences in dates or name spellings, yet, in one Litvak application I assisted, MD insisted on a court order showing that one letter difference in a name spelling over multiple documents was legally effected – a standard they knew was impossible to meet. The Migration Department imposes a standard on Litvak citizenship applicants that no other country imposes, and is not contained in Lithuanian law. Given the Migration Department Judenrein attitudes, their motivation is clear. The Seimas Committee might find the attached data to be useful. It is, of course, subject to further clarification and correction. Lithuania’s national image suffers as a result of Interior Ministry conduct. I hope the Seimas Committee recognizes the dishonesty in MD’s process and encourages MD to conduct their business in an ethical and objective fashion. Thank you. Grant Gochin.
Analytical Review of Denials for Restoration of Lithuanian Citizenship
Summary on Collation of Graphs
The graphs on the following pages have been compiled using data obtained directly via the search function on the Lithuanian Register of Acts Website (https://www.e-tar.lt/portal/en/legalActSearch). Every denial ruling is uploaded under the name 'Dėl Lietuvos Respublikos pilietybės neatkūrimo'. Please refer to Section A for the graphs and to Section B for granular detail on the unsuccessful applicants who form the basis of these graphs.
Section A.1 – Likely Ethnicity
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Likely Ethnicity of Rejections since January 2016
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Likely Ethnicity of Rejections since January 2015
Section A.2 – Country of Birth
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Country of Birth of Rejections since January 2016
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Country of Birth Rejections since January 2015
Section B – UNSUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS
Restoration of Citizenship - Individual Denials
Name Country of Birth Date of Ruling Likely Ethnicity
Katsiarynos Siarko Russia May-16 Non-Jewish
Krystsinos Staniukinaitses Belarus May-16 Non-Jewish
Grazinos Jasinos Russia Apr-16 Non-Jewish
Olgos Jasinos Russia Apr-16 Non-Jewish
Gilat Biron Israel Apr-16 Jewish
May Biron Israel Apr-16 Jewish
Nimrod Biron Israel Apr-16 Jewish
Alan Kaplan South Africa Apr-16 Jewish
Ronald Kaplan South Africa Apr-16 Jewish
Gilat Ron (Sayag) Israel Apr-16 Jewish
Amalios Sayag Israel Apr-16 Jewish
Yael Sayag Israel Apr-16 Jewish
Shani Doron Israel Mar-16 Jewish
Shir Doron Israel Mar-16 Jewish
Tal Doron Israel Mar-16 Jewish
Ido Schneidover Israel Mar-16 Jewish
Raz Schneidover Israel Mar-16 Jewish
Tamar Schneidover Israel Mar-16 Jewish
Marcelle Friedland South Africa Mar-16 Jewish
Nimrod Rivier Israel Mar-16 Jewish
Yoav Rivier Israel Mar-16 Jewish
Roni Rivier Israel Mar-16 Jewish
Katerynos Solobutovos Ukraine Mar-16 Non-Jewish
Dean Gordon Israel Mar-16 Jewish
Colin Bedil South Africa Mar-16 Jewish
Gavid Bedil South Africa Mar-16 Jewish
Varren Bedil South Africa Mar-16 Jewish
Neville Lasarow South Africa Mar-16 Jewish
Yael Schanan Israel Mar-16 Jewish
Yoav Schanan Israel Mar-16 Jewish
Uri Schanan Israel Mar-16 Jewish
Michael Fehler South Africa Feb-16 Jewish
Steven Fehler South Africa Feb-16 Jewish
Joel Back South Africa Feb-16 Jewish
Shirley Ruth Musikanth-Zacks South Africa Feb-16 Jewish
Dylan Zacks South Africa Feb-16 Jewish
Gareth Zacks South Africa Feb-16 Jewish
Maksine Zacks South Africa Feb-16 Jewish
Noy Dar Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Tom Dar Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Michael Hellig South Africa Feb-16 Jewish
Guy Shacht Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Brittany Shapiro South Africa Feb-16 Jewish
Jared Shapiro South Africa Feb-16 Jewish
Kaylin Shapiro South Africa Feb-16 Jewish
Lynette Shapiro South Africa Feb-16 Jewish
Hannos Nayer Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Oded Nayer Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Ofer Nayer Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Uri Nayer Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Neri Aluma Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Illy Dishon Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Chen Shelach Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Eitan Shelach Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Adi Shelah Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Adi Miller Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Amiram Miller Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Ben Miller Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Gali Miller Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Idan Miller Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Limor Miller Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Lital Miller Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Sharon Miller Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Anzhelikos Markauskenes Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Oleg Sablinso Russia Feb-16 Non-Jewish
Greg Cohen South Africa Feb-16 Jewish
Keiros Cohen South Africa Feb-16 Jewish
Orly Arent Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Linos Azerskayos Russia Feb-16 Non-Jewish
Annos Buchinchik Russia Feb-16 Non-Jewish
Leos Harpaz Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Yelenos Kukalevskiy Kazachstan Feb-16 Non-Jewish
Fedor Kukalevskiy Kazachstan Feb-16 Non-Jewish
Caleb Levitan South Africa Feb-16 Jewish
Hayley Levitan South Africa Feb-16 Jewish
Judah Levitan South Africa Feb-16 Jewish
Sofios Levitan South Africa Feb-16 Jewish
Efrat Holtzman Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Omri Holtzman Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Sagit Holtzman Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Shani Holtzman Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Aleksandr Bastrykin Russia Feb-16 Non-Jewish
Kamilijaus Makausko Lithuania Feb-16 Non-Jewish
Kristinos Marshevos Russia Feb-16 Non-Jewish
Viktor Syrovatkin Russia Feb-16 Non-Jewish
Alon Bassman Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Lior Bassman Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Gail Levin Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Phillip Levin Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Rael Levitt Israel Feb-16 Jewish
Musios Dulnikov Lithuania Jan-16 Non-Jewish
Ericos Suzan Lithuania Jan-16 Non-Jewish
Amitai Shalom Carney Israel Jan-16 Jewish
Daniel Izhak Carney South Africa Jan-16 Jewish
Carinne-Dophnos Carni Israel Jan-16 Jewish
David Natan Carni South Africa Jan-16 Jewish
Leon Joseph Charney Lithuania Jan-16 Jewish
Shani Toder Israel Jan-16 Jewish
Bronvyn Kotzen South Africa Jan-16 Jewish
Candice Kotzen South Africa Jan-16 Jewish
Gavin Kotzen South Africa Jan-16 Jewish
Ricky Kotzen South Africa Jan-16 Jewish
Ayelet Shifroni Israel Jan-16 Jewish
Eyal Shifroni Israel Jan-16 Jewish
Klil Shifroni Israel Jan-16 Jewish
Nave Shifroni Israel Jan-16 Jewish
Darjos Chriscianovic Belarus Jan-16 Non-Jewish
Siarhei Chriscianovic Belarus Jan-16 Non-Jewish
Mattan Lahav Israel Dec-15 Jewish
Tomer Lahav Israel Dec-15 Jewish
Claudios Constantiner USA Dec-15 Non-Jewish
Melissos Constantiner USA Dec-15 Non-Jewish
Steven Constantiner USA Dec-15 Non-Jewish
Arturo Sourasky Mexico Dec-15 Jewish
Victorios Dinari Israel Dec-15 Jewish
Zafrir Dinari Israel Dec-15 Jewish
Bernard Seeff South Africa Dec-15 Jewish
Doros Seeff South Africa Dec-15 Jewish
Alon Brutzkaus Israel Dec-15 Jewish
Oro Brutzkaus Israel Dec-15 Jewish
Noa Brutzkus Israel Dec-15 Jewish
Shneor Zalman Israel Dec-15 Jewish
Sason Zemach Israel Dec-15 Jewish
Hilton Gordon South Africa Dec-15 Jewish
Michael Gordon South Africa Dec-15 Jewish
Einav Gadish Israel Dec-15 Jewish
Oleg Kondravatichaus Russia Dec-15 Non-Jewish
Basyos Vilibert Lithuania Dec-15 Jewish
Dianos Vilibert Lithuania Dec-15 Jewish
Julio Karpucho Argentina Dec-15 Jewish
Caryn Abrams South Africa Dec-15 Jewish
Cynthia Cohen South Africa Dec-15 Jewish
Gavin Cohen South Africa Dec-15 Jewish
Trevor Cohen South Africa Dec-15 Jewish
Steven Rubinstein South Africa Dec-15 Jewish
Giora Gavish Israel Dec-15 Jewish
Nimrod Gavish Israel Dec-15 Jewish
Noa Gavish Israel Dec-15 Jewish
Ouzi Gavish Israel Dec-15 Jewish
Victoro Iochio Russia Dec-15 Non-Jewish
Alinos Ivanovos Russia Dec-15 Non-Jewish
Annos Ivanovos Russia Dec-15 Non-Jewish
Olgos Ivanovos Russia Dec-15 Non-Jewish
Zaavos Kantorovich Lithuania Dec-15 Jewish
Svetlanos Kocherginos Russia Dec-15 Non-Jewish
Pavel Melnikov Russia Dec-15 Jewish
Jegvenijos Rajsjakos Russia Dec-15 Non-Jewish
Annos Augustis Russia Nov-15 Non-Jewish
Ivan Augustis Russia Nov-15 Non-Jewish
Jono Zumerio Lithuania Nov-15 Non-Jewish
Eduardo Ramanausko Brazil Nov-15 Non-Jewish
Ariela Carno South Africa Nov-15 Jewish
Ilan Carno South Africa Nov-15 Jewish
Yaakov Carno South Africa Nov-15 Jewish
Yonatan Carno South Africa Nov-15 Jewish
Martin Carno South Africa Nov-15 Jewish
Michael Carno South Africa Nov-15 Jewish
Talya Carno South Africa Nov-15 Jewish
Dina Garber South Africa Nov-15 Jewish
Nikitos Nikolaev Portugal Nov-15 Non-Jewish
Ettie Geffen Israel Nov-15 Jewish
Boaz Geffen Israel Nov-15 Jewish
Yonatan Geffen Israel Nov-15 Jewish
Noa Geffen Israel Nov-15 Jewish
Ram Geffen Israel Nov-15 Jewish
Gilad Ronnen Israel Nov-15 Jewish
Rafael Barreiros Brazil Nov-15 Jewish
Brittany Romain South Africa Nov-15 Jewish
Rhett Romain South Africa Nov-15 Jewish
Robyn Romain South Africa Nov-15 Jewish
Baum Kaganas Uruguay Nov-15 Jewish
Brian Gers USA Nov-15 Jewish
Abraham Ravid Israel Nov-15 Jewish
Chen Ravid Israel Nov-15 Jewish
Ohad Ravid Israel Nov-15 Jewish
Yoseph Ankorion Israel Nov-15 Jewish
Aharon Altman Israel Nov-15 Jewish
Almog Altman Israel Nov-15 Jewish
Ofer Altman Israel Nov-15 Jewish
Shachaf Altman Israel Nov-15 Jewish
Shiran Battler Israel Nov-15 Jewish
Reginos Sidorovos Lithuania Nov-15 Non-Jewish
Irmos Chagidevitch Russia Nov-15 Jewish
Vitalijaus Georgicos Russia Nov-15 Non-Jewish
Antano Yatsinevichyus Russia Nov-15 Non-Jewish
Aleksander Lyapkin Russia Nov-15 Non-Jewish
Vadim Pichuzhkin Russia Nov-15 Non-Jewish
Kristinos Romanovos Russia Nov-15 Non-Jewish
Antoninos Romel Lithuania Nov-15 Non-Jewish
Margaritos Romel Russia Nov-15 Non-Jewish
Viktor Romel Russia Nov-15 Non-Jewish
Evgenii Savateev Russia Nov-15 Non-Jewish
Ingos Zamyslavos Belarus Nov-15 Non-Jewish
Kristinos Bragaite Russia Oct-15 Non-Jewish
Karinos Budei Russia Sep-15 Non-Jewish
Ilonos Ermakovos Russia Sep-15 Non-Jewish
Algimanto Yasulevichaus Russia Sep-15 Non-Jewish
Yanos Yasilevichute Russia Sep-15 Non-Jewish
Eduardo Bernetskio Russia Sep-15 Non-Jewish
Evgenii Butkaus Russia Sep-15 Non-Jewish
Arlene Treger South Africa Sep-15 Jewish
Brandon Treger USA Sep-15 Jewish
Dylan Treger USA Sep-15 Jewish
Shannon Treger USA Sep-15 Jewish
Bernice Ungar South Africa Sep-15 Jewish
Nathan Alpern Lithuania Sep-15 Jewish
Rachel Alpern Israel Sep-15 Jewish
Rafael Alpern Lithuania Sep-15 Jewish
Serge Alpern Lithuania Sep-15 Jewish
Vasilijaus Raskino Russia Sep-15 Non-Jewish
Danil Ermolaev Russia Sep-15 Non-Jewish
Larisos Ermolaev Russia Sep-15 Non-Jewish
Cilios Druskin Lithuania Sep-15 Jewish
Doros Druskin Lithuania Sep-15 Jewish
Yehudos Druskin Lithuania Sep-15 Jewish
Anastasiios Biriukovos Russia Aug-15 Non-Jewish
Sofios Biriukovos Russia Aug-15 Non-Jewish
Valeriios Kartashovos Russia Aug-15 Non-Jewish
Zinaidos Kartashovos Russia Aug-15 Non-Jewish
Reginos Klumbites Russia Aug-15 Non-Jewish
Liudmilos Rokhlikovos Russia Aug-15 Non-Jewish
Viktoriios Rokhlikovos Russia Aug-15 Non-Jewish
Egidios Lipede Lithuania Aug-15 Non-Jewish
Valentinos Kolitilovos Russia Aug-15 Non-Jewish
Onos Savateevos Russia Aug-15 Non-Jewish
Rolando Brazhinsko Russia Aug-15 Non-Jewish
Kazio Brazisko Russia Aug-15 Non-Jewish
Vito Brazinsko Russia Aug-15 Non-Jewish
Sergey Ario Russia Aug-15 Non-Jewish
Siarhei Matochivi'aus Belarus Aug-15 Non-Jewish
Rimo Petrausko Ukraine Jun-15 Non-Jewish
Gilad Bloch Israel Jun-15 Jewish
Viktoriios Cheremisinos Russia Jun-15 Non-Jewish
Elenos Filatovos Russia Jun-15 Non-Jewish
Jelizavetos Majorovos Russia May-15 Non-Jewish
Aleksanderio Aleksandrovo Bulgaria May-15 Non-Jewish
Emilio Aleksandrovo Bulgaria May-15 Non-Jewish
Emmos Aleksandrovos Bulgaria May-15 Non-Jewish
Lilianos Aleksandrovos Bulgaria May-15 Non-Jewish
Aleksandr Avrentyev Kazachstan Apr-15 Non-Jewish
Lauros Budrite Italy Apr-15 Non-Jewish
Liudmilos Budrytes Russia Apr-15 Non-Jewish
Leonido Shnaiderio Russia Apr-15 Jewish
Linos Shnaider Russia Apr-15 Jewish
Michaelio Shnaiderio Ukraine Apr-15 Jewish
Romano Rusako Russia Mar-15 Non-Jewish
Rimmos Arslanov Tajikstan Mar-15 Non-Jewish
Ruslano Shamsutdinovo Uzbekistan Mar-15 Non-Jewish
Zarinos Shamsutdinov Uzbekistan Mar-15 Non-Jewish
Oksanos Kivaievos Ukraine Mar-15 Non-Jewish
Oleksandro Kivaievo Ukraine Mar-15 Non-Jewish
Dmitrii'aus Baerino Russia Mar-15 Non-Jewish
Vladimir Baerino Russia Mar-15 Non-Jewish
Zenonos Baerino Lithuania Mar-15 Non-Jewish
Oleg Leykaus Russia Feb-15 Non-Jewish
Alon Levinson Russia Feb-15 Jewish
Moshe Faktor Lithuania Feb-15 Jewish
Ianinos Bozhenko Lithuania Feb-15 Non-Jewish
Lauros Iuknevichenės Lithuania Feb-15 Non-Jewish
Nelli Kurdiukovos Russia Feb-15 Non-Jewish
Anastasios Shobyrevos Russia Feb-15 Non-Jewish
Ayvaro Stankaus Lithuania Feb-15 Non-Jewish
Grazhinos Stankuvenės Lithuania Feb-15 Non-Jewish
Darios Marchenko Russia Feb-15 Non-Jewish
Stepanidos Aleksandrovičienės Lithuania Feb-15 Non-Jewish
Mykolo Kemešio Lithuania Feb-15 Non-Jewish
Zuzanos Juzefos Karnauch Lithuania Jan-15 Non-Jewish
Svetlanos Shchipakovos Lithuania Jan-15 Non-Jewish
Vitaly’aus Atkochayčio Russia Jan-15 Non-Jewish
Boriso Belousovo Estonia Jan-15 Non-Jewish
Iurii’aus Gornostai’aus Russia Jan-15 Non-Jewish
Candice’s Simone’s Hirson South Africa Jan-15 Jewish
Edeno Leeono Kogano Israel Jan-15 Jewish
Olgos Marčenkovos Tajikstan Jan-15 Non-Jewish
Vladimiro Povilaičio Lithuania Jan-15 Non-Jewish
Anastasiios Valikonitės Russia Jan-15 Non-Jewish
Inesos Yepikhavos Belarus Jan-15 Non-Jewish
Aleksey’aus Vorobyevo Russia Jan-15 Non-Jewish