Stosunki polsko-litewskie w kontekście Karty Polaka

The ‘Polish Card’ is granted by Poland to people of the Polish ethnic origin, who live now in the former Soviet Union territory (incl. Lithuania). The Card’s aim is to maintain bonds between Poland and the Poles abroad who are not Polish citizens. There is a strong Polish minority in Lithuania and Polish-Lithuanian relations (in a broad context of nationality) are very complicated due to complex historical processes, typical for East- Central Europe. Thus, the idea of the Card is often criticized in Lithuania. There are doubts about the idea as a question appears whether the Card means also its holder’s liability to another state (Poland) or not. Officially, the Polish Card does not mean a Polish citizenship, but there are several features, that could be understood as a commitment to Poland. Finally, a political decision has been made that the Polish Card holders would be tolerated, but there are still many controversies between the two states about the problem.