Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a meeting with the new Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas, Saulius Skvernelis, in Vilnius. The parties discussed ways to secure the release of political prisoners, support Belarusians in Lithuania, respond to the sham election in Belarus, address regional and national security threats, and develop Belarusian-Lithuanian relations.
Here is a summary of the discussion.
📌 Freeing political prisoners. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called for increased international pressure on the Lukashenka regime to achieve the release of all unjustly imprisoned people in Belarus.
📌 Supporting the Belarusian community in Lithuania. Mr. Skvernelis and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya discussed ways to simplify the legalization of stay and other procedures for Belarusians in Lithuania and facilitate their integration into the country’s cultural and economic life.
📌 Non-recognition of the ‘election’. Mr. Skvernelis and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya agreed that the ‘election’ organized by the Lukashenka regime cannot be recognized as legitimate. The Speaker emphasized that this is a farcical process and that political decisions could be made without waiting for its conclusion.
📌 Regional security threats. The meeting analyzed threats posed by the Lukashenka regime, including Russian troops and weapons on Belarusian territory, which undermine regional stability and border security.
📌 Cooperation with the Lithuanian Seimas. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya proposed that the Seimas adopt a resolution on the non-recognition of the January 26 election in Belarus. The parties also discussed cooperation with the group “For a Democratic Belarus” and potential joint initiatives.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I am grateful to Speaker Saulius Skvernelis, the Seimas, the government, and the people of Lithuania for their unwavering support for Belarusians. Lithuania is our reliable partner in the fight for freedom. I am particularly thankful to Speaker Skvernelis for his assistance to Belarusians in 2020”.
