December 27, Pozirk. The 19th government of Lithuania will continue to support the Belarusian pro-democracy forces, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys has told Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja in Vilnius.
“We will ensure that Belarusians who have received temporary asylum in Lithuania feel safe and have the opportunity to work for the democratization of their country,” Budrys said, according to the foreign ministry website.
A democratic and peaceful Belarus is in Lithuania’s security interests, he asserted.
He underscored the importance of a proper international response to the regime-staged reelection of Alaksandar Łukašenka, expected in January. Lithuania had already raised the Belarusian issue at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in December and will raise it again in January, Budrys told Cichanoŭskaja.
The diplomat urged the international community to address issues, such as the Łukašenka regime’s repression of the Belarusian people, its continued support for Russia’s war against Ukraine and its partnership with China, Iran and North Korea.
Developments in Belarus have an impact on Europe and the international security architecture, not only Lithuania, he stressed.
Cichanoŭskaja’s diplomatic adviser Dzianis Kučynski, who attended the meeting, had the impression that Budrys was “open to cooperation and will welcome the active work of Belarusians in Lithuania.”
Kučynski told Parłamiencki Kanał that the Belarusian opposition leader thanked Lithuania’s top diplomat for his clear message regarding the Belarusian election coming up in January.
For its part, Cichanoŭskaja’s United Transitional Cabinet reported that the situation of political prisoners and sanctions were also discussed during the meeting.
Budrys reportedly assured Cichanoŭskaja that the new Lithuanian government will uphold the previous government’s referral to the International Criminal Court regarding the regime’s alleged cross-border crimes against humanity.
Furthermore, the politicians discussed joint Belarusian-Lithuanian conferences, seminars and speeches at international forums. Cichanoŭskaja asked for a meeting with the prime minister, as well as justice and internal affairs officials.
In addition, she talked about the need to support the independent media.
Budrys took office on December 12, when Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas’ government was sworn in.
