English Newsletter Update: Assaults on Expatriates
In a complex and tense relationship, Lithuania continues to prioritise a democratic Belarus as a key interest, providing refuge to opposition leaders such as Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and her husband, Siarhei Tsikhanouski [1]. Lithuanian officials emphasise the need for continued international pressure on the Lukashenka regime to release political prisoners and implement democratic reforms [1].
However, Belarus perceives Lithuania (and Poland) as hostile neighbours due to their policies supporting the Belarusian opposition and opposing interaction with Minsk. This has contributed to Belarus’s strategic anxieties and reluctance to fully re-engage with the West [2].
On the security front, while Lithuania acknowledges the ongoing military cooperation between Belarus and Russia—such as the upcoming scaled-down “Zapad-2025” exercises—it currently does not see these drills as an immediate threat aimed at escalating conflict with NATO but monitors them closely [3].
Recent events have highlighted ongoing security tensions, with the Lithuanian State Security Service (VSD) announcing that a series of attacks on the Belarusian diaspora in Vilnius were orchestrated by the Belarusian and Russian secret services to ferment conflicts between locals and the diaspora [4]. The VSD also announced that these attacks moved from the "information-psychological" realm into the physical environment, with a thwarted operation involving young Belarusians being recruited to film a music video where they would have been attacked [4].
Meanwhile, Lithuania registered 18 warmth records this year, raising concerns about possible draughts later in the summer [5]. To address potential emergencies, a new evacuation plan has been detailed, involving hundreds of officers to coordinate escape routes west and looming infrastructure projects to improve roads and bridges [6].
On a positive note, Lithuanian commercial banks posted a profit of 1 billion euros this year, and Lithuania's central bank reported a six-fold increase in profits [7]. Additionally, nine new night bus routes are coming to Vilnius [8].
In cultural news, a Japanese photographer found inspiration from Lithuania’s Čiurlionis for their work, and the experiences of growing up Russian-speaking in Lithuania’s Visaginas remain to be explored [9].
References: [1] Lithuania supports Belarusian democracy, emphasises need for international pressure on Lukashenka regime. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.balticworlds.com/lithuania-supports-belarusian-democracy-emphasises-need-for-international-pressure-on-lukashenka-regime/ [2] Belarus perceives Lithuania as hostile neighbour. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.balticworlds.com/belarus-perceives-lithuania-as-hostile-neighbour/ [3] Lithuania monitors Belarus-Russia military exercises closely. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.balticworlds.com/lithuania-monitors-belarus-russia-military-exercises-closely/ [4] Lithuanian State Security Service accuses Belarusian and Russian secret services of orchestrating attacks on Belarusian diaspora. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.balticworlds.com/lithuanian-state-security-service-accuses-belarusian-and-russian-secret-services-of-orchestrating-attacks-on-belarusian-diaspora/ [5] Lithuania registers 18 warmth records this year. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.balticworlds.com/lithuania-registers-18-warmth-records-this-year/ [6] New evacuation plan detailed for Lithuanian capital. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.balticworlds.com/new-evacuation-plan-detailed-for-lithuanian-capital/ [7] Lithuanian commercial banks post 1 billion euros in profit this year. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.balticworlds.com/lithuanian-commercial-banks-post-1-billion-euros-in-profit-this-year/ [8] Nine new night bus routes coming to Vilnius. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.balticworlds.com/nine-new-night-bus-routes-coming-to-vilnius/ [9] Japanese photographer finds inspiration from Lithuania’s Čiurlionis. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.balticworlds.com/japanese-photographer-finds-inspiration-from-lithuanias-ciurlionis/ [10] Experiences of growing up Russian-speaking in Lithuania’s Visaginas remain to be explored. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.balticworlds.com/experiences-of-growing-up-russian-speaking-in-lithuanias-visaginas-remain-to-be-explored/
- Despite Lithuania's efforts in education-and-self-development, providing refuge to Belarusian opposition leaders and advocating for democratic reforms, politics between the two nations remain strained, with Belarus perceiving Lithuania as a hostile neighbor [2].
- Meanwhile, in the realm of crime-and-justice, the Lithuanian State Security Service (VSD) reported that a series of attacks on the Belarusian diaspora were orchestrated by the Belarusian and Russian secret services, moving from the "information-psychological" realm into the physical environment [4].