Lithuania hands Minsk note of protest after death of its national in detention

March 12, Pozirk. The Lithuanian foreign ministry has handed the Belarusian charge d’affaires a note of protest following the death of a Lithuanian national at a Belarusian detention center on March 9.  

The man might have been denied medical assistance, the ministry said, accusing Belarusian authorities of failure to notify Lithuania “properly” of his arrest and health issues.

The ministry said that diplomats were unable to visit the detainee to offer him consular assistance.

The 70-year old Vilnius resident was arrested at the Bienjakoni border checkpoint on December 31 for an alleged attempt to smuggle 98 9-mm pistol cartridges, the Belarusian State Border Committee reported on January 10.

He died on March 9, said Asta Andrijauskienė, Lithuania’s ambassador at large, citing information from the Belarusian foreign ministry, Delfi reported.

The embassy was informed about the arrest in January, she said, noting that diplomats were unable to arrange a meeting despite sending several requests to the Belarusian foreign office.

“In the answer to one note, the Belarusian agency said that it was impossible to arrange a meeting because the Lithuanian citizen had died,” she said.

“Today [March 12] we have received a note from the Belarusian foreign ministry, confirming the fact and date of the death of the Lithuanian citizen, without providing any details. That is why we have asked [the ministry] to provide all information about the circumstances of what has happened,” she stressed.

The Lithuanian foreign ministry accused Belarusian authorities of stepping up “provocative actions” against Lithuanians traveling to Belarus.

“Lithuanian citizens have been illegally detained on trumped-up charges,” it said and strongly advised Lithuanians against traveling to Belarus and leave the country “immediately.”