February 3, Pozirk. Vilnius could “play an important role in shaping a constructive negotiating agenda” with Minsk, Belarusian opposition politician Maryja Kaleśnikava, who was released from prison last December, told Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Rūginienė.
Kaleśnikava’s sister Taćciana Chomič of the opposition Coordination Council also participated in the meeting, the Lithuanian government’s press office reported.
Kaleśnikava urged Lithuania to continue supporting Washington’s efforts “aimed at diplomatic de-escalation in relations with Belarus” and thanked Ruginienė for Lithuania’s consistent support for exiled Belarusian civil society and pro-democracy forces.
The Lithuanian politician stressed that her government prioritizes safeguarding Lithuania’s national security and pledged to keep up pressure on Minsk to secure the release of jailed dissidents. Vilnius “supports the diplomatic efforts of the United States aimed at releasing all political prisoners in Belarus,” she noted.
Kaleśnikava, a campaign manager for presidential hopeful Viktar Babaryka in 2020, was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2021 on charges widely seen as politically motivated. She was released in mid-December 2025 along with 122 other prisoners in Alaksandar Łukašenka’s deal with Washington.
Germany invited Babaryka and Kaleśnikava to stay in the country. Kaleśnikava had lived in Germany from 2007 to 2020.
