Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today the President of Lithuania vetoed the law that imposes restrictions on Russian and Belarusian nationals in Lithuania.
From the very beginning, my team worked to protect the rights of Belarusians and make these restrictions less severe. We raised these issues with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior of Lithuania, as well as Lithuanian MPs. At our suggestion, the latest bill softened the restrictions on Belarusians, and most MPs supported these proposals. I also sent a letter to President Nauseda explaining that restrictions should not target Belarusians.
I am convinced that the people of Belarus must not be put on par with the regime’s accomplices, and Belarusians must not be punished for the regime’s actions. It is Russia, assisted by the Lukashenka regime, that started the war, while Belarusians are fighting on the side of Ukraine, risking their health, freedom, and life by guerilla acts of sabotage in Belarus. Belarusians abroad help Ukrainians, hold anti-war rallies, and create initiatives and communities that help Belarusians within the country fight against dictatorship, despite monstrous repressions and terror. Belarusians relocate their businesses to Lithuania, which are among the top taxpayers and significantly contribute to the Lithuanian economy. Finally, Belarusians also contribute to the future victory of Ukraine.
Of course, we greatly appreciate all the support Lithuania has been providing in our struggle for a democratic European future for Belarus. And we count on a rational decision by the Lithuanian government and the Lithuanian parliament to continue to strengthen ties between our peoples, rather than build walls between them”.
