A meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kęstutis Budrys, and representatives of Belarusian civil society, the diaspora, independent media, businesses, and educational and religious initiatives operating in Lithuania took place at Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Vilnius.
Before the meeting, the Director of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Vilnius, Dzianis Kuchynski, gave Minister Budrys a tour of the Office and introduced him to the team that continues its work in Lithuania.
The meeting brought together 40 representatives from 35 Belarusian organizations: NGOs, media outlets, businesses, a Belarusian school, religious communities, diaspora groups, human rights, cultural, educational, and youth organizations, as well as initiatives supporting political prisoners, former political prisoners, repressed Belarusians, and their families.
Belarusian organizations presented their work in Lithuania and shared the key challenges facing Belarusians today.
The topics discussed included:
- support for Belarusian civil society in Lithuania and its role in strengthening a democratic Belarus;
- visas and possible short-term visits for relatives of Belarusians living in Lithuania who cannot safely return to Belarus;
- support for Belarusian students and educational initiatives;
- the work of independent Belarusian media in Lithuania and issues related to residence permit renewals;
- support for Belarusian culture, artists, and cultural organizations;
- security, countering disinformation, and the role of the Belarusian diaspora in Lithuania;
- issues related to Belarusian children, education, and preserving ties to the Belarusian language and culture;
- support for political prisoners, former political prisoners, and repressed Belarusians;
- public rhetoric regarding Belarusians in Lithuania and dialogue between societies.
Minister Budrys noted that a free and democratic Belarus is a goal Lithuania shares with the country’s democratic forces. He added that the current authoritarian regime in Belarus poses a threat to Lithuania’s national security because it remains Russia’s political and military ally, stressing that the EU must continue its policy of non-recognition, isolation of the regime, and sanctions, while at the same time strengthening support for the democratic forces and the people of Belarus.
On behalf of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Dzianis Kuchynski thanked Minister Budrys, the Lithuanian Government, and the Lithuanian people for their consistent support for Belarusians and a democratic Belarus. Kęstutis Budrys was also presented with a symbolic gift — a Slutsk sash.
Dzianis Kuchynski: “Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Vilnius continues its work, and its main priorities are maintaining a diplomatic hub, continuing and further strengthening cooperation with the Lithuanian Government, and working closely with Belarusian organizations. Today’s meeting brought together all of these areas. On behalf of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, we thank Lithuania — Minister Budrys, President Nausėda, and the Government — for supporting the Belarusians who live here”.
Photographer: Aliaksandr Haidalym. More photos are available here.
