Lithuanian Foreign Ministry responded to an appeal with an attack on Tsikhanouskaya

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania has responded in writing to 16 questions sent under the signature of Lithuanian Seimas member Rimas Jonas Jankūnas. The answers were published on his Telegram channel by politician Dzmitry Balkunets.

1. On what legal basis and by the decision of which official was the Representation of Belarusian Democracy accredited? Please provide copies of documents related to this accreditation (application and act of accreditation). What is the official legal status of this representation in Lithuania? What rights and obligations did this representation acquire upon accreditation?

The Representation of Belarusian Democracy was accredited with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania on June 16, 2021, as an "other representation" in accordance with the Regulation on the Accreditation in the Republic of Lithuania of Members of Diplomatic Missions of Foreign States, Consular Posts, Representations of International Organizations, European Union Institutions, and Other Representations, approved by Resolution No. 4 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania of January 6, 1998, "On the Approval of the Regulation on the Accreditation in the Republic of Lithuania of Members of Diplomatic Missions of Foreign States, Consular Posts, Representations of International Organizations, European Union Institutions, and Other Representations" (hereinafter — the Regulation).

Point 2 of the Regulation states: "Other representation — a representation of an entity possessing special status under international law, or another entity, whose international cooperation with the Republic of Lithuania is consistent with the goals of foreign policy and national security established in legal acts adopted by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, accredited with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania by decision of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania." We provide the application signed by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on June 1, 2021, on behalf of Belarusian civil society, and the response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of June 18, 2021 (attached). Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and other members of the representation are not accredited.

2. What is the diplomatic status of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and her husband in Lithuania? What permissions and immunities do they have?

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and her husband do not have diplomatic status in Lithuania; accordingly, diplomatic immunities and privileges do not apply to them. In accordance with the Procedure for the Preparation of Visits of Official Guests to the Republic of Lithuania, approved by Resolution No. 1485 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania of November 27, 2003, "On the Approval of the Procedure for the Preparation of Visits of Official Guests to the Republic of Lithuania" (hereinafter — the Procedure), by decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of January 29, 2021, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was granted the status of an official guest of category C.

3. What impact has the decision to accredit the Representation of Belarusian Democracy had on diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Belarus?

Diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Belarus have been affected by many challenges in recent years: Belarus's assistance to Russia in its aggressive war against Ukraine, artificially created migration crises on the Lithuanian-Belarusian border, various hybrid threats, including information attacks, provocations against citizens of the Republic of Lithuania, border provocations, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, and contraband flows, etc. The activities of the Representation of Belarusian Democracy align with Lithuania's long-term national interests, as enshrined in documents adopted by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania and in the program of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.

4. How do you assess the fact that the Representation of Democracy of all Belarus operates in Lithuania as a public institution owned by one person, whose official activities include printing and publishing?

The Representation of Belarusian Democracy is accredited with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania as an "other representation," and relations are maintained with it on this basis.

5. How do you assess that the official website of the Representation of Belarusian Democracy essentially coincides with the website of her personal public institution, the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and the address of this website https://tsikhanouskaya.org/ essentially coincides with the surname of the head of the Representation of Belarusian Democracy? Does this not evoke associations with the personality cult propagated by the current Belarusian regime?

The choice of the website address for the Representation of Belarusian Democracy is a decision of the representation's administration itself. It should be noted that Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya acquired the status of an internationally recognized leader of the Belarusian democratic forces after the falsified presidential elections in Belarus in 2020, and the activities of the Belarusian democratic forces and their organization are associated with her name.

6. How do you assess the preamble to the draft new Constitution of Belarus posted on this website and the clearly visible signs of legitimization of Sovietism and Litvinism in it? Does the position of the Representation of Belarusian Democracy, which supports such a project, correspond to the interests of the Lithuanian state?

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has repeatedly publicly condemned Litvinism, and Belarusian public organizations operating in Lithuania signed a declaration in 2024 clearly dissociating themselves from these ideas. The references to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and its historical heritage found in the documents of the Representation of Belarusian Democracy reflect the fact of a shared historical past between Lithuania and Belarus. Information publicly published by the State Security Department confirms that the special services of Russia and Belarus use the topic of Litvinism as one of the tools to incite hostility in Lithuania between Lithuanians and Belarusians and destabilize their relations. Therefore, when presenting various assumptions, it is important to distinguish historical facts from manipulative narratives spread by hostile states.

7. Are you aware of similar practices in other states where diplomatic accreditation is granted to a public institution owned by a single individual?

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not collect such information.

8. Would the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consider accrediting public institutions (opposition representations) of other citizens of Belarus or other states that oppose the regimes of these countries? What requirements would they have to meet to obtain such accreditation? If not, what justifies the exclusivity of the accredited organization?

In accordance with the Regulation, by decision of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, a representation of an entity possessing special status under international law, or another entity whose international cooperation with the Republic of Lithuania is consistent with the goals of foreign policy and national security defined in legal acts adopted by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, may be accredited.

9. Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consider the Representation of Belarusian Democracy to be the sole legitimate expression of the political will of the Belarusian people? Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintain ties with other Belarusian opposition organizations and their leaders? Which ones? What support (financial and non-financial) does it provide to them?

Lithuania remains a safe and open space for all Belarusian democratic forces striving for freedom and the rule of law in their country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains informal ties with various Belarusian democratic forces and civil society initiatives guided by democratic principles, supporting their efforts and projects aimed at combating the illegitimate regime of Aliaksandr Lukashenka, his complicity in Russia's aggression against Ukraine, stopping human rights violations, long-term democratization of Belarus, and preserving its sovereignty. All this strengthens the voice of Belarusians in the international arena, and Lithuania, in turn, provides political, expert, and other practical support.

10. What specific state budget funds (amounts in euros, sources, budget items) were allocated for direct financing of the representation of the Belarusian opposition in Lithuania and its leaders (including Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya) from January 1, 2020, to August 1, 2025? Please provide a breakdown by year, including the date of each payment, recipient, and purpose.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not have information regarding direct financing of the Representation of Belarusian Democracy from the state budget.

11. What forms of indirect financial support (e.g., through EU funds, international programs, or other institutions supervised or administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) were provided to the representation of the Belarusian opposition and its leaders from January 1, 2020, to August 1, 2025? Please provide the amount of each support, source, recipient, project or program (e.g., Democracy Assistance Programs), and reports on their use.

Funds from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' development cooperation and democracy support program (hereinafter — the Program) are allocated based on decisions of the Commission for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance (hereinafter — the Commission). Since January 1, 2020, the Commission has not made decisions to allocate Program funds to the Representation of Belarusian Democracy. The Commission has also not made decisions to allocate targeted contributions designated for the Representation of Belarusian Democracy to other funds and international organizations engaged in development cooperation activities.

12. What forms of non-financial support (e.g., provision of premises, logistical assistance, security measures, issuance of diplomatic visas, organization of events, or other services) were provided to the representation of the Belarusian opposition and its leaders from January 1, 2020, to August 1, 2025? Please provide a detailed account, including the cost of each type of support in euros (if estimable), duration, recipients, and related documents (e.g., agreements or protocols).

In accordance with the Procedure, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, as an official guest of the Republic of Lithuania, is entitled to the service of the VIP departure (arrival) lounge. This is paid for by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2021, 13 thousand euros were allocated for this purpose, in 2022 — 74 thousand euros, in 2023 — 92 thousand euros, in 2024 — 129 thousand euros, and in the first half of the current year, 44 thousand euros have been used for this purpose. Issues related to ensuring Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's security do not fall within the competence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

13. What audits or inspections have been carried out regarding the use of the aforementioned financial and non-financial support from January 1, 2020, to August 1, 2025? Please provide audit reports, conclusions, and any identified violations, including assessments by the State Audit Office or other institutions. If no audits were conducted, please state the reasons.

The internal audit unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs operates according to procedures established in the internal audit methodology of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Considering the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' operational objectives, strategic planning documents, and based on risk assessment, this audit was not included in the plans for 2021-2025.

14. What legal acts or international agreements regulate the provision of this support? Please provide links to specific articles or points and explain how they ensure transparency and accountability to Lithuanian taxpayers. If support is provided without a direct budget appropriation, please indicate alternative funding mechanisms and justification for their legality.

The service of the VIP departure (arrival) lounge is due to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya as an official guest of the Republic of Lithuania, as provided for in the Procedure. Competent services organize the protection of the official guest, guided by current legal acts and the conducted assessment of security threats and risks.

15. Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plan to continue this support in the future? For how long? By what criteria is the expediency of this support and the accreditation of the representation itself assessed, if at all? Please provide projected amounts and forms for the 2026 budget period, including any changes related to the political situation in Belarus or Lithuania.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to support the Belarusian democratic forces until Belarusians can freely and democratically decide the future of their country, and representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces, representing their interests, can safely return and live in their country. By granting official status to the Representation of Belarusian Democracy and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Lithuania has assumed political responsibility, the undermining of which would entail specific practical and reputational consequences.

Lithuania's continued support for the Belarusian democratic forces strengthens Lithuania's reputation as an active country supporting democratic movements in Eastern Europe and defending human rights on the international stage, increases Lithuania's visibility in the region and in the international community, brings economic benefits through the activities of international non-governmental organizations, media, and donors, and also helps preserve Vilnius's status as a center uniting Belarusian democratic forces.

16. Is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs interested in and does it possess data on other sources through which these organizations are funded? Has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ensured that they are not funded by Belarus or Russia?

Issues of funding transparency for non-governmental, public, and other organizations operating in Lithuania do not fall within the competence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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