Lithuania's foreign minister has met representatives of the Belarusian democratic opposition in Vilnius and reaffirmed the country's commitment to supporting their cause.
Kęstutis Budrys met on Friday with representatives of democratic forces, civil society, the diaspora, independent media, education, business and religious communities. The Foreign Ministry said the meeting underlined that Vilnius remains a safe base for Belarusian civic activity.
Practical matters were also on the agenda, including procedures for issuing Schengen visas, temporary residence permits and other documentation, as well as the smoother integration of Belarusian citizens into Lithuanian society.
Budrys stressed that Lithuania's approach is guided by its determination to support Belarusians while complying with national legislation, EU law and security requirements.
"We share a common goal – a democratic and free Belarus. The current authoritarian Belarusian regime is a threat to Lithuania's national security, as the country is a political and military ally of the aggressor Russia. For this reason, it is necessary to continue the policy of non-recognition, isolation and sanctions at the EU level, while simultaneously strengthening support for the Belarusian democratic forces and people," he said.
The two sides agreed to continue dialogue and cooperation to strengthen Belarusian civil society, educational initiatives and resilience against disinformation.
Lithuania has become one of the main hubs for Belarusians who fled the country following the violent crackdown on protests after the disputed 2020 presidential election, in which Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory against widely held expectations.
According to Migration Department data, as of June 1, some 44,600 Belarusian citizens held temporary residence permits in Lithuania, with a further 4,100 holding permanent residence permits.
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