Lithuania to continue supporting Belarusian opposition, raise sensitive issues – FM

VILNIUS - Lithuania's motivation to support opposition forces remains strong and the country will continue raising questions about the democratic process in Belarus, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys says, as Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has informed Lithuanian lawmakers of her decision to move to Warsaw.

"We have several decades of input in this area, and we will continue working, and this will not change in our activities. My interest is that Belarus remains on the agenda as one of the issues as it has been forgotten. Lithuania has made a significant contribution to raising this issue on the agenda, as well as repeatedly drawing attention to human rights violations. I do not believe that anything will change in this regard," Budrys told reporters on Wednesday.

"This does not diminish our motivation because it is in our interest to talk about the democratic perspective in neighboring countries. If this reduces our opportunities in any way, as I hear some people interpreting it here, I completely refute that. Not at all. This is our work, our resource, and our channel through which we can raise these issues in various formats, and we will continue doing so," he said.

Lithuania's top diplomat says that Tsikhanouskaya's office itself should announce its plans to leave Vilnius.

"I believe that all communication about what she intends to do, what her office intends to do, should be communicated by them first, rather than me communicating what someone said, knows, or something similar. I have spoken with Tsikhanouskaya about a wide range of topics, and have met with her on several occasions, including very recently. However, it would be good if she announced her plans herself," Budrys said, adding that he assured Tsikhanouskaya of Lithuania's continuous support.

"Lithuania will continue doing what it is doing. This is an important issue for us, both in terms of the security of democratic forces in Lithuania and that of individuals, organizations, and their activities. Lithuania's priorities in this regard remain unchanged, and we will continue discussing this," he said.

According to Budrys, Tsikhanouskaya's circle has numerous times expressed "various considerations" about the "whole package" provided by Lithuania, including the protection of the Belarusian opposition leader, which he described as unprecedented.

Last week, Tsikhanouskaya informed Lithuanian lawmakers of her decision to relocate to Poland, sources told BNS on Saturday. 

One of the Lithuanian lawmakers later told BNS that several members of the opposition leader's team were likely to continue working in Vilnius.

As reported by BNS, Lithuania downgraded Tsikhanouskaya's security protection at the end of 2025, transferring responsibility from the Dignitary Protection Service to the police.

Authorities said the move reflected a reduced threat level, but critics said it downgraded her status.

Tsikhanouskaya ran against President Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus' disputed 2020 presidential election, with the opposition saying the vote was rigged and that she was the real winner.

Belarus, ruled by Lukashenko since 1994, suppressed the mass protests that followed the vote, arresting thousands and forcing tens of thousands into exile.

Tsikhanouskaya's aide Denis Kuchinsky told journalists that her husband, Siarhei Tsikhanouski, released from prison last year, was currently in the United States for security reasons.