VILNIUS – The Vytis is a Lithuanian symbol, but it could be used by "freedom-seeking nations that do not kowtow to Putin-kowtowing", Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says.
His comment came after some politicians were outraged that a mock-up of a Belarusian "passport" features a knight on horseback, resembling the Vytis.
"I don't think that the Vytis, as a truly wonderful, beautiful Lithuanian symbol, can be used by other nations because it reflects our will, creativity and courage. If we are talking about the true unity of our nations, however, I mean those freedom-seeking nations that do not kowtow to Putin-kowtowing, I think we can certainly allow them to use that symbol, which to me reflects Lithuania," Nauseda told reporters on Sunday.
"For me and for many people, there's no doubt as to what the historical capital of Lithuania is and where our political will and power emanated from. That it emanated from Vilnius and covered today's territories of Belarus and Ukraine," the Lithuanian president said, adding, however, that the use of this symbol on the Belarusian opposition's "passports" also raises "legal and diplomatic aspects of this matter".
In Lithuania, the symbol is called the Vytis, and it's called the Pahonia in Belarus. Both derived from the same coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, but some of their elements differ.
Those differences are also highlighted by members of the Belarusian opposition, saying that they are using the national symbols that existed in Belarus before the country's authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko came to power.
A mock-up of such a Belarusian "passport" was last week unveiled by Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya who also thanked the Lithuanian government "support and advice".
Although this "passport" is not officially recognized as a travel document, the Belarusian politician says she regularly raises this issue in meetings with foreign politicians.
In response, MPs from the opposition conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, including former Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas, have asked Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys to ensure that the Belarusian documents "do not use the state symbols of the of the Republic of Lithuania".
This is not the first case when the Belarusian opposition's "passports" spark debate in Lithuania. Early last year, photographs of a document mock-up emerged and they incorrectly showed the border between Lithuania and Belarus. The Belarusian opposition then called it a "technical error" and vowed to correct it.
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