Prime Minister: we make a clear distinction between Lukashenko's regime and Belarusian people
On August 29 Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė visited the Belarusian Democracy Representation and met with the leader of the democratic Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
During the meeting, the following topics were discussed: the situation in Belarus, the involvement of the Lukashenko's regime in the Russia's war against Ukraine, the situation of Belarusians who have fled the repression and live in Lithuania, and the activities of Belarusian democratic forces and civil society in the pursuit of a democratic future for Belarus.
‘Since the beginning of the repression in Belarus, and especially since the great wave of repression that followed another presidential election which Lukashenko stole in 2020, Lithuania has been a temporary home for Belarusians forced to flee their country. Let me assure you that this position did not change after February 24 – we will continue to do everything to ensure that Belarusian democratic forces and civil society organisations, representatives of the free media as well as all Belarusians who love freedom and fight for it are safe in Lithuania and able to live and work in dignity in order to return to a democratic Belarus one day’, said Prime Minister.
Ms Šimonytė thanked Ms Tsikhanouskaya and all Belarusians of goodwill for their clear and public stance condemning the Russia's war against Ukraine and the Lukashenko regime's complicity in it as well as for their support for Ukraine and for the Ukrainian people who fled the war and found refuge in Lithuania.
‘Today Belarusians living in Lithuania know better than anyone else what it means to leave your country with a few essentials, hoping that you will return soon, and to realise that, at least for the upcoming months or even years, you will have to build a new life in a new country from scratch. I thank the Belarusians for opening their community doors and their hearts to the Ukrainians, for sharing basic necessities with them, for providing financial aid, for volunteering, for continuous support for Ukraine until Ukraine and all of us emerge victorious’, said Šimonytė.
Prime Minister pointed out that at the time when the whole world is focused on the war in Ukraine, we must not forget to support the Belarusians in their struggle for democracy, freedom and the fundamental right to decide the fate of their country. According to Ms Šimonytė, it is now more important than ever that Belarusians themselves would stay united in pursuing this common goal. She emphasized that Lithuania sees and supports Ms Tsikhanouskaya's efforts to mobilise the democratic forces in Belarus. Prime Minister also stressed that Lithuania would continue to keep the case of the freedom of Belarus on the international agenda, and that it supported and would continue to support the Belarusian people’s demands for an end to the repression in Belarus, the release and full rehabilitation of political prisoners as well as free and democratic elections.