Lithuania Marks Six Years Since Belarus Election, Reaffirms Non-Recognition and Condemns Repression

Lithuania, alongside the international community, continues to reject the results of the 2020 presidential elections in Belarus, marking the sixth anniversary of the disputed vote and subsequent mass protests. The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (URM) expressed solidarity with the Belarusian people who are defending principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

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Into the peaceful demand of the Belarusian people to freely choose the future of their country, the regime responded with mass repressions, political persecutions, destruction of independent media and civil society, which continue to this day.

The ministry stated that the Belarusian regime responded to the peaceful demands for freedom with widespread repression, political persecution, and the suppression of independent media and civil society, conditions that persist. Despite some gestures from the regime, the fundamental situation in Belarus has not changed over the past six years. The repressive apparatus remains intact, and the issue of political prisoners is unresolved, with the human rights situation continuing to deteriorate.

Lithuania highlighted that the Belarusian regime's policies directly impact Lithuania's and Europe's security. Belarus is identified as an accomplice in Russia's aggression against Ukraine and is accused of conducting hybrid attacks against EU member states, including facilitating illegal migration for political purposes.

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The repressive apparatus remains unchanged, and the problem of political prisoners is not resolved. Political persecution continues, the human rights situation continues to deteriorate.

The URM called on the Belarusian regime to immediately release all political prisoners, cease its repression of society, stop supporting Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and end its hybrid attacks against the EU. Lithuania pledged to continue pursuing accountability for those responsible for human rights violations, repression, and complicity in aggression. The country also committed to supporting Belarusian civil society, independent media, human rights defenders, and democratic forces led by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, as well as reinforcing the EU's response and international efforts to isolate the regime and support Belarus's democratic future.

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Belarus remains an accomplice in Russia's aggression against Ukraine, carries out hybrid attacks against EU member states, including promoting illegal migration for political purposes.