Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski, met with the leadership of Lithuania’s newly established Working Group on Combating Xenophobia, chaired by the Prime Minister’s Advisor, Aleksandras Radčenko.
The meeting addressed key concerns of the Belarusian community in Lithuania, including:
- Legalization of residence and legal documents: residence permits, political asylum, and issues with Belarusian passports;
- Support and integration: education, vehicle registration, and Lithuanian language courses;
- Countering propaganda;
- Possible fields of cooperation between the government of Lithuania and the democratic forces of Belarus.
Dzianis Kuchynski: “The group primarily focuses on combating xenophobia and discrimination. However, it includes representatives from nearly all relevant ministries – Interior, Culture, Foreign Affairs, Education, as well as the Department of National Minorities. This provides a platform for broader discussions that can help improve the lives of Belarusians in Lithuania.
I presented 12 key proposals on two main issues: legalization of stay and integration.
The Lithuanian side reaffirmed its willingness to continue the dialogue and work together to find the best ways to support Belarusians in Lithuania. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office will soon meet with Belarusian NGOs to discuss further cooperation”.
