“Dear friends, Lithuanians and Belarusians,
This workshop is a great occasion to discuss the place of Belarus in Europe and Lithuanian-Belarusian relations.
I’d like to thank Ms. Tatsiana Chulitskaia and Professor Korosteleva, as well as Vilnius University for hosting it.
And especial thanks to professor Šešelgytė from the Institute of International Relations and Political Science. Your Institute builds bridges between the Lithuanian and Belarusian academic community, and helps our nations to better understand each other.
We will never forget the support that we got from Lithuania. Your solidarity amazed us then, and inspires us today. We will never forget the Laisvės kelias here on the streets in Vilnius, in august 2020, when thousands lithuanian and belarusian flags waving together
Thousands of Belarusians were fleeing the terror and found a safe refuge here in Lithuania. And my friend Linas, was a first person who received me, and helped to organize our work in exile.
Here, in Lithuania, hundreds of businesses, NGOs, media outlets, human rights defending centers reestablished their work. Former political prisoners, who passed through the nightmare of Stalin-like prisons are undergoing rehabilitation.
Lithuania became a hub for freedom-thinking Belarusians. We see it from polls, more than 95% Belarusians in Lithuania are against Russia’s war in Ukraine, and for democratic changes in Belarus.
But even for ordinary people, Lithuania is a beacon of hope. Many of those, who are not political activists, traveling here see another future for Belarus, European future. Many see Lithuania as a model for our country. 2020 would not be possible, if not millions of visas provided by Lithuania and Poland to Belarusians.
We understand that we are guests, and we came here temporarily. Because our goal is to win our country back and return home.
Lukashenka’s and Putin’s regime will do all possible to destroy Belarusian-Lithuanian friendship. We see a deliberate campaign of anti-democratic forces aiming to sow mistrust between our nations, to stage provocations.
A few weeks ago, we could see a video, obviously made by the Belarusian KGB, where they attacked Lithuania. They spoke in Lithuanian in the name of Belarusian volunteers in Ukraine. Let me assure you: Belarusians don’t have and will never have any territorial claims to its neighbors. Lithuania and Vilnius belong to Lithuanians. Period.
The regime instrumentalized the fears of ordinary people through well-arranged disinformation campaigns. However, we should be resilient, and look for what unites, not divides us. We should strengthen our cooperation in political, academic, media, and cultural sectors.
It’s in the interest of Lithuania to have Belarus as democratic independent European country, a predictable neighbor, out of the Russian sphere of influence, and we should work together on this goal.
We understand the security concerns of Lithuania. No doubt that the regime of Lukashenka and Putin will try to undermine Lithuanian security. Look what they are doing on the borders. However, we should not just treat the symptoms, but the very core of the problem, which is the anti-democratic regime. And we should advocate for strong sanctions against the regime combined with the support for the society. Belarusian society stands for the European democratic future of our country, and we clearly showed it in 2020.
It’s important to differentiate between Belarusians and regime’s cronies. There are very few of the latter ones. We should identify them, and not allow them to travel or make businesses evading sanctions and misusing Lithuanian hospitality. We, as democratic forces, are ready to provide all necessary assistance in verification and sanction enforcement.
We should keep the regime isolated, while keeping borders open for Belarusians. And I am grateful to Lithuania for its decision not to close borders for passenger traffic. What bothers me more, dozens of thousands of Lithuanians travel to Belarus every day, where they become obvious targets for the regime.
We should strengthen Belarusian institutions in exile. Their role should not be underestimated. As you know Belarusians here are no longer allowed to renew their passports or any other documents. We prepare to issue our own New Belarusian passports, to let people confirm their citizenship, and have the ability to travel. We are guided by your example. During the Soviet occupation, the government of independent Lithuania in exile also issued its own passports. I fully endorse the Lithuanian government proposal to prolong the residence permits to three years, and issue foreigners’ passports to Belarusians who can’t get back home.
Dear friends,
Our true desire is to have our own country, to forge our own fate. Lithuania’s path to freedom and independence is a great inspiration for us.
Belarusians are also walking this path. I firmly believe that, at the end of it, the same as today’s Lithuania, Belarus will become a member of the European Union.
Yes, today it seems like a distant goal. But we will get there. Because membership in the European Union is the only alternative to the “Russian world”.
The “Russian world” is our common enemy. So let’s make our friendship stronger in order to face this enemy together.
Thank you very much.
Long Live Lithuania, Zhyve Belarus”.
