Natalia Radzina And Zmitser Bandarenka Met With The Lithuanian Minister Of Foreign Affairs

• 20.06.2025, 14:19

Belarus remains a priority of Lithuanian foreign policy.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys and director of the Department of Eastern Policy of the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry Mantas Jakimavičius met with editor-in-chief of the website Charter97.org Natalia Radzina and coordinator of the civil campaign "European Belarus" Zmitser Bandarenka in Vilnius on June 19.

"The meeting discussed the situation in Belarus and the region, the strategy and policy of Lithuania and the European Union towards our country, the sanctions pressure on Lukashenko's regime and the need to release Belarusian political prisoners. Sanctions against Lukashenko's regime should be maintained and even strengthened. It is also extremely important to support independent media, which bring true information to Belarusians and oppose the massive Lukashenko-Putin propaganda; and human rights organizations that provide assistance to the repressed. This is what should be done today, based on the situation we are in. Strategically, one should realize that a change of the situation in Belarus is possible in the near future, and the West should make efforts to remove our country from the zone of Russian influence. Belarus is a part of Europe and a key country for ensuring European security," - commented Natalia Radzina.

"At the meeting, we said that Belarusians, as well as citizens of Lithuania, are in solidarity with the Ukrainians, fighting for their freedom and independence, and it is very important that Lithuania, Poland and other EU countries address Belarusians with the message that democratic Belarus is important for Europe. We talked about the need to communicate with the Belarusian society. Today about 8 million Belarusians live in their own country, and about a million live abroad, first of all, in neighboring countries. And the correct communication with the Belarusians will determine whether they will be allies and friends of the EU countries, or their huge potential will be used by the enemies of democracy. That's why the support of the Belarusian independent media is so important. Minister Budrys noted that Belarus is and will always be an important neighbor and partner for the Lithuanian state, that we have a common history, and that he believes in the inevitable democratic future of Belarus," - said Zmitser Bandarenka.