Фото: МИД Литвы
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys has reaffirmed his country’s unchanged position on Belarus. This concerns both support for Belarusian civil society and continued pressure on Lukashenka.
According to the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, the minister met in Vilnius today with representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces, civil society, diaspora, independent media, educational institutions, businesses and religious communities based in Lithuania.
During the meeting, Budrys reaffirmed Lithuania’s strong support for the Belarusian people. It was also stressed that Vilnius remains a safe space for the activities of Belarusian communities.
“We share a common goal — a democratic and free Belarus. The current authoritarian regime in Belarus poses a threat to Lithuania’s national security, as the country is a political and military ally of the aggressor, Russia. Therefore, it is necessary to continue the policy of non-recognition, isolation and sanctions against the regime at the EU level, while simultaneously strengthening support for Belarus’s democratic forces and people,” the ministry quoted the minister as saying.
The ministry said practical issues raised by Belarusian organisations were also discussed, including procedures for issuing Schengen visas, temporary residence permits and other documents, as well as the smoother integration of Belarusian citizens into Lithuanian society. It was noted that all decisions are made on the basis of Lithuania’s unwavering commitment to assisting Belarusians while complying with national legislation, European Union law and national security requirements.
The parties agreed to continue dialogue and cooperation aimed at strengthening Belarusian civil society, educational initiatives and resilience against disinformation and other shared threats.