December 3, Pozirk. Dzianis Kučynski from the team of Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja met United States deputy national security advisor Andy Baker in Washington to discuss the impact of peace talks on Ukraine on the future of Belarus.
Kučynski reported on the meeting on X, noting that he has visited the US for the third time in the past five months.
His meeting with Baker focused on humanitarian efforts to secure the release of jailed Belarusian dissidents, ensuring Belarus’ sovereignty and its democratic transformation as well as deepening the strategic dialogue between the US and Belarus’ pro-democracy forces, he noted.
The talks also reportedly featured a discussion of current hybrid attacks by Alaksandar Lukašenka’s regime on Lithuania and Poland and the need for constant pressure on Minsk.
Last week, Kučynski, on behalf of Cichanoŭskaja’s Office, submitted 18 proposals to Lithuanian authorities on how to step up pressure on Minsk amid frequent weather balloon incursions from Belarus.
Lithuania has faced systematic airspace violations this year, with the number of incidents rising sharply since mid-October. Since January, nearly 600 cigarette-smuggling weather balloons and 197 drones have been detected.
These incursions keep disrupting operations of the Vilnius International Airport, affecting at least 320 flights and 47,000 passengers, Lithuanian Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovič said yesterday.
