Lithuanian Minister: It would be good if Tsikhanouskaya herself announced her plans
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys stated that Lithuania will not reduce its support for the Belarusian opposition, despite information about Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's intention to move from Vilnius to Warsaw. According to him, Lithuania's motivation remains as strong as before, and democratic processes in Belarus and human rights violations will continue to be raised at the international level, reports LRT.
Kęstutis Budrys. Photo: AP Photo / Mindaugas Kulbis
Kęstutis Budrys emphasized that Lithuania has many years of experience and established mechanisms for supporting democratic forces in neighboring countries, and these capabilities have not disappeared. He noted that it is important for Lithuania that Belarus does not disappear from the international agenda, and in this, the country sees its special role.
The minister also stated that information about relocation plans should be announced by Tsikhanouskaya herself or her office, not by the Lithuanian authorities. He added that he had repeatedly met with the leader of the Belarusian opposition and assured her of Lithuania's continued support.
“I believe that all communication about what she intends to do, what her office intends to do, should come primarily from them, and it is not for me to report who said what where, knows what, and so on. I have spoken with Tsikhanouskaya on a variety of topics, met with her multiple times, including very recently. But it would be good if she herself announced her plans,” Budrys noted.
Separately, Budrys emphasized that for Lithuania, the safety of Belarusian democratic forces located on its territory, as well as their activities, remains a priority. According to him, these priorities have not changed.
It was previously reported that Tsikhanouskaya informed Lithuanian parliamentarians of her decision to move to Warsaw, while part of her team will likely remain working in Vilnius. At the end of 2025, the level of protection for Tsikhanouskaya in Lithuania was reduced: instead of a special service, she began to be guarded by the police, which the authorities explained by a decrease in the level of threats.
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