Vilnius – Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry has affirmed it will not revoke the accreditation of the office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the exiled Belarusian opposition leader, despite calls for its removal from a Lithuanian parliamentarian.
Ministry spokesperson Mantas Stanys stated definitively that the accredited status, granted through a goverment decision, is not currently under review. “The status was conferred by a Government resolution, and there are no discussions underway regarding a change to that status,” Stanys emphasized.
he further clarified that the Foreign Ministry has not engaged in any consultations with the Lithuanian government regarding the matter. When pressed on potential conditions that might trigger a reconsideration of the accreditation, Stanys declined to comment, stating, “We simply cannot discuss what would need to happen.”
The issue arose following a request from Vytautas Sinica, a member of the Seimas National Security and Defense committee (NSGK), to Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys. Sinica argued that the “Belarusian Democratic Office” is misusing Lithuania’s hospitality to establish a base for an “choice belarus” within the country, rather than fostering positive bilateral relations.
The Foreign Ministry maintains its position that the accreditation is vital for enabling the belarusian opposition to operate and consolidate democratic forces. This stance underscores Lithuania’s long-standing support for the Belarusian pro-democracy movement, especially following the disputed 2020 presidential election that saw widespread protests against the regime of Alexander Lukashenko.
Recent public debate was ignited by remarks made by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s husband, Siarhei Tsikhanouski, hinting at the possibility of establishing autonomous Belarusian regions within Lithuania. These comments prompted criticism and concerns about potential territorial implications.
Dzianis Kuchynskis, Head of the International Relations Department at Tsikhanouskaya’s office, responded by assuring that Belarusians pose no threat to Lithuania’s sovereignty or territorial integrity. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya herself claimed her husband’s statements were misinterpreted. The office is currently located at Savanorių prospektas 21, Vilnius, Lithuania. The accreditation allows the office to maintain diplomatic contact and coordinate activities with international partners supporting the Belarusian democratic movement. The initial accreditation was granted on January 29, 2021, following a resolution by the lithuanian government.
