Belarusian state media circulated an edited fragment of an interview with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, creating the impression that he is eager to normalise relations with Minsk. Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry described the incident as a provocation and said the remarks had been taken heavily out of context, LRT reported.
In a report by the state TV channel ONT, Budrys says he wants to establish relations with Belarus:
“I want to have established contacts with Belarus, this is my dream, truly… without unnecessary threats. I very much hope that one day we will have excellent relations after we resolve all issues. – So, you are ready to establish relations? – I dream of it!”
The interview was recorded at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where the minister took part in a discussion on European security.
However, according to Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry, a substantial part of the statement was cut from the report. In the full version, Budrys spoke about repression by the Lukashenka regime against civil society and political prisoners, and stressed that Lithuania cannot discuss normalisation of relations until all political prisoners are released, Belarus ceases to be complicit in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and stops hybrid attacks against Lithuania.
“The minister spoke about the Lukashenka regime’s repression against civil society: while releasing some political prisoners, it arrests others. In his remarks, he emphasised that Lithuania would, of course, like to have a peaceful and democratic neighbour with which it could maintain friendly relations, however it is impossible to talk about relations with Belarus until all political prisoners are released, Belarus remains complicit in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and hybrid attacks against Lithuania are carried out from its territory,” the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said.
“This case once again shows who we are dealing with — provocateurs and manipulators,” the ministry added.
The edited fragment was used not only by Belarusian propaganda but also by Belarusian diplomacy. On Monday, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry stated that it welcomed Budrys’ remarks and expressed readiness for constructive dialogue.
