Tsichanouskaya: attacks planned against Belarusians in Lithuania show regimes' fear

VILNIUS – Attacks planned against Belarusians in Lithuania show the fear of the Russian and Belarusian regimes, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsichanouskaya has said.

The politician made comments after the State Security Department (SSD) reported last week that Russian and Belarusian intelligence services are plotting attacks against Belarusians in Lithuania.

“The fact that the Russian and [Alexander] Lukashenko’s security services are trying to target Belarusians even outside Belarus only proves once again how much they fear our solidarity and our work," Tsichanouskaya told BNS after Saturday's commemoration of the victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

According to her, the main goal of such attacks is to intimidate the Belarusian diaspora, spread fear, and sow distrust between Belarusians and Lithuanians.

“However, this will not work. Belarus and Lithuania are neighbors and allies united by our struggle for freedom,” the Belarusian opposition leader said.

She also called on the people of Lithuania to support Belarusians who have found refuge here and to distinguish between the regime of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and the people.

ADDITIONAL SECURITY MEASURES

Tsichanouskaya says she understands the possible threats, does not ignore them, and emphasizes her trust in the Lithuanian authorities.

“We understand that the threats are real, and we do not ignore them. However, we will not allow ourselves to be intimidated. We are convinced that the Lithuanian security services are doing everything possible to protect Belarusians and to uncover and stop any provocations by the regime's special services,” the politician told BNS.

According to the Belarusian opposition leader, no Belarusian can be completely safe at the moment, so additional precautions are being taken.

“We are working to identify agents of the regime, informing diaspora activists about possible threats and risks, as well as how to verify information and contacts,” she explained.

According to Tsichanouskaya, there are also institutions in Lithuania and Poland that provide legal and psychological counseling.

According to Lithuanian intelligence, the information and psychological operation conducted by Russian and Belarusian services since 2023 is becoming increasingly dangerous, moving from social networks to physical space, manifesting itself in vandalism and attempts to incite violence.

According to the SSD, the aim of the operation is to make the Belarusian diaspora in the country feel unsafe and thus shape the image of Lithuania as a xenophobic state.

“I UNDERSTAND THE RISKS”

Several dozen people, including Belarusians living in Lithuania and representatives of ten foreign embassies, attended a ceremony in the Sapieha Palace Park in Vilnius on Saturday to honor the victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

People laid flowers at the monument to the Mother of Chernobyl.

Karina Solovei, director of the Belarusian environmental organization Ecohome (Ekodom), who attended the event, told BNS that she feels safe enough in Lithuania but understands the potential risks.

“I feel pretty safe in Lithuania, but I'm also aware of the risks coming from Belarus’ and Russia's special services,” Solovei told BNS.

“I think the Belarusians living here generally feel quite safe. Many thanks to Lithuania for that,” she added.

Ecohome states on its website that in 2022, the Belarusian KGB classified the organization as an “extremist entity”.

The non-profit organization is concerned with the environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine, the fight against nuclear power, and other environmental issues.