Lithuanian formin, Belarusian opposition figures discuss human rights situation

  • 2019-06-15
  • BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS – Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevicius met with representatives of Belarusian opposition in Vilnius on Friday and discussed the human rights situation in this authoritarian country.

The meeting was attended by Anatoly Lebedko of the European Dialogue, Nikolai Kozlov, a representative of the United Civic Party of Belarus, Igor Borisov of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party, Dmitri Kuchuk of the Belarusian Greens Party, Yuri Gubarevich of the movement "For Freedom", and Vital Rymasheuski of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Committee, Rasa Jakilaitiene, spokeswoman for the Lithuanian foreign minister said.

According to the ministry, the meeting focused on the ongoing processes in Belarus, and Linkevicius expressed his concern over the non-improving human rights situation in the country and systematic violations of civic rights.

"The future of the independent and democratic Belarus, which respects human rights and the rule of law, is important for Lithuania," Linkevicius said.

The minister also underlined that Lithuania's position on the Astravyets nuclear power plant remains unchanged and it believes the project is being implement in a non-transparent way and in violations of the existing conventions, therefore, Lithuania will continue raising questions about the plant's safety.

The representatives of Belarusian opposition thanked Lithuania for its decision to make inscription in the Belarusian language on the monument of Konstantinas Kalinauskas, on of the leaders of the 1863-1864 uprising.