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Belarus–Lithuania relations

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Belarusian-Lithuanian relations
Map indicating locations of Belarus and Lithuania

Belarus
Lithuania

Belarus and Lithuania established diplomatic relations on 24 October 1991, shortly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The two countries share 680 kilometres (420 mi) of common border.

Vilnius hosts multiple Belarusian civil society organizations, such as European Humanities University, Belarusian refugees such as Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, remains of national heroes the two countries share like Konstanty Kalinowski and has been the birthplace of Belarusian literature (Francysk Skaryna). Vilnius is the closest capital of an EU member state to Minsk. It is also the primary foreign shopping and air transit hub (via Vilnius and Kaunas airports) for Belarusians from Minsk and beyond. Minsk is the foundational place of Belarusian Lithuanian community organization, 1996 – Lithuanian Sunday school. In 1998, Lithuanian culture and art days were held here. In 2004, a Lithuanian school-course was established. In 2005 September 4 Belarusian Lithuanian Community Congress took place in Minsk. On the initiative of the Lithuanian association Vytis founded in 2012 (chairman Vladas Bublevičius), a Lithuanian language school for children has been held in the premises of the Lithuanian Embassy since 2013, courses for adults at the Maksim Tank Belarusian State Pedagogical University, in 2014 an evening of poetry and songs My Lithuania was organized at the Republican Center for National Cultures. From 2019 November a Lithuanian Sunday school has been operating in the Lithuanian language office of the Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after Maksim Tank.[1] Grodno is a popular foreign shopping and tourism location for many Lithuanians due to its close proximity to the Lithuanian border and overall historical importance to Lithuania.[2]

History

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Until the 20th century

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Changes in the territory of Lithuania from the 13th to 15th century. At its peak, Lithuania was the largest state in Europe encompassing the entire territory of modern-day neighboring Belarus.
Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 17th century within the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The territory was almost identical to the modern day borders of the two countries.

The relations between ancestors of Belarusians and Lithuanians (Eastern Slavs and Balts) have been developing since ancient times; their close communication is shown by archaeological and linguistic data. From the 13th century to the end of the 14th century in the current territory of Belarus, the former principalities of Polotsk, Minsk, Turov and others were annexed by the expanding Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL). The Slavic provinces of the GDL were called "Lithuanian Ruthenia" (Litovskaja Rus). From 1569 to 1772, six of the nine GDL voivodeships were Belarusian with the remaining 3 being Lithuanian. Belarusian and Lithuanian nobles, partly townsmen and peasants, together defended the GDL, participated in the liberation movement, especially in the uprisings of 1830-31 and 1863-64. Throughout the 19th century in both states, the Polish-speaking nobility remained, but cherished the cultural and political traditions of the GDL. From the 19th century to the early-20th century, joint social democratic organizations operated in Lithuania and Belarus.[3]

First half of the 20th century

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In 1918 Lithuania was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Belarus.[4] After its territory was occupied by the Red Army in 1918, the Belarusian government in exile operated for some time in the temporary capital of Lithuania, Kaunas.[4] According to an agreement between Lithuania and Belarus, the Grodno region was given to Lithuania, Belarusian units formed there took part in the Lithuanian independence struggle.[4] There were six Belarusian representatives in the Council of Lithuania.[4]

Following the Soviet invasion of Poland at the start of World War II, in 1939, the elections to the People's Assembly of Western Belorussia were held in Soviet-occupied north-eastern Poland (Western Belorussia) and eventually the deputies voted to unite Western Belorussia with Eastern Belorussia and the Soviet Union.[5] Nevertheless, 10 Lithuanians, who were elected to the People's Assembly of Western Belorussia, initially voted against the unification of Western Belorussia with Eastern Belorussia and explained that they instead want to unite with the Republic of Lithuania, thus the voting had to be repeated.[5]

On 3 August 1940, the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union adopted a decree to transfer Sviancianski rajon [be] and territories inhabited by the Lithuanians in Vidzy, Adutiškis, Astravyets, Voranava, and Radun districts from the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic to the sovietized Lithuania.[5] On 1–2 October 1940, negotiations were held in Grodno between the Lithuanian and Belarusian communists.[5] The Lithuanians received less territories than they were appointed by the Supreme Soviet Decree of 3 August 1940 and on 6 November 1940 the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union adopted a new decree regarding the borders of the Byelorussian SSR and the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic.[5] The Byelorussian SSR transferred cities and surroundings of Švenčionys, Dieveniškės, Druskininkai to the Lithuanian SSR that were mostly inhabited by Lithuanians and the Lithuanians began administrating them in January 1941.[4][5] According to a 26 September 1940 meeting protocol of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Byelorussia, Panteleimon Ponomarenko, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Byelorussia, narrated during the meeting that previously he discussed with the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin the issue of the territorial transfers between the Byelorussian SSR and the Lithuanian SSR and Stalin said to him that if he will not transfer territories where there are many Lithuanians he will be punished.[6]

After the restoration of independence

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On 20 December 1991, the Supreme Council of Lithuania recognized the independence of Belarus, with the same happening vice versa seven days later. On 30 December 1992, an agreement on diplomatic relations was signed in Minsk.[7] The Belarus–Lithuania border is defined by a February 1995 treaty, with the ground demarcation of the border being completed in 2007.[8] Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko made two official visits to Lithuania in 1995 and September 2009. On 27 October 2010, President Dalia Grybauskaitė became the first ever Lithuanian head of state to the Belarusian capital of Minsk, as well as the second leader of an EU member nation to visit Belarus (Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was the first).[9] In April 2020, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and Lukashenko had the first tête-à-tête conversation in 10 years.[10] In May 2019, former president and Member of the European Parliament Rolandas Paksas paid a visit to Belarus for the first time in an official capacity, discussing proposals to stabilize the military-political situation in the Baltic Sea.[11]

Rifts in relations

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Belarus embassy in Vilnius
Embassy of Lithuania in Minsk

Each country hosts opposition figures for the other, with Belarus sheltering coup-leader Vladimir Uskhopchik and Lithuania harboring Belarusian opposition figures. Lithuania has attempted to encourage a European orientation in Belarusian leadership, and has pursued trade deals and cooperation among law enforcement agencies. Sharing of information led to the arrest of Belarusian human-rights activist Ales Bialiatski, resulting in European condemnation of both countries.[12]

Lithuania has been a vocal critic of the Astravets Nuclear Power Plant which was built close to the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. On 7 February 2019, the Meeting of the Parties to the Espoo Convention decided that Belarus had violated the convention in choosing a construction site for its nuclear power plant.[13]

Following the Lukashenko government's crackdown after the disputed 2020 Belarus Presidential elections, which were widely regarded as unfree and unfair,[14] Belarusian opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya fled to Lithuania.[15] On 12 August Lithuania opened its borders to all Belarusians for humanitarian purposes due to the crackdown on protests.[16] Two days later on August 14, Lithuania became the first EU state to openly reject the legitimacy of Alexander Lukashenko as the President of Belarus. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said "We can not call Mr. Lukashenko legitimate because there were no free democratic elections in Belarus".[17]

Following the Ryanair Flight 4978 incident on 23 May 2021, during which Belarus officials arrested two passengers, opposition activist and journalist Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega, the relations between the countries have further deteriorated.[18] On 25 May 2021 Lithuanian parliament announced ban for all flights from and to Lithuania via Belarus airspace.[19]

Belarus is reported to be the main source (93%) of illegally smuggled cigarettes in Lithuania.[20]

2021 migrant crisis

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Main article: Belarus–European Union border crisis
Border barrier built by Lithuania in 2022

In June 2021, Lithuanian officials claimed that Belarusian authorities could encourage illegal migration from Iraq and Syria to Lithuania by organizing groups of refugees and helping them to cross the Belarusian-Lithuanian border.[21][22] State-owned travel company Tsentrkurort was named as one of the performers of illegal migration.[22] A number of roomy planes from Bagdad and Istanbul full of possible migrants were said to land in Minsk airport.[22] Belarusian independent journalists checked the airport and claimed that the majority of passengers arrived from Iraq and Turkey were men aged 30–50 who were met by two travel agencies.[23][24] It was assumed that the state support of illegal migration could be carried out for political reasons.[22] On 7 July 2021, Lithuania declared state of emergency due to influx of migrants from Belarus.[25] Statement of Alexander Lukashenko about possible emergence of armed migrants was considered to be a threat.[26]

According to investigation of Lithuanian LRT, the most frequent category of migrants, Iraqi Kurds, claimed that they were told that entering European Union via Belarus is legal. After a few days in Belarusian hotels migrants were collected, taken to the border and set the direction of movement on foot claiming that the car will wait them in Lithuania. It was reported that they paid up to €15,000 for travel and a US$3,000–4,000 deposit.[27] According to the investigation of Belarusian reform.by, people from Middle East believe that they should destroy their passport in to avoid deportation from EU.[26] Anonymous sources in Belarusian border guards claimed that their bosses started to encourage cigarette smuggling via checkpoints and to encourage gaps in border cover.[26] Another border guard told reform.by about receiving a verbal order to turn a blind eye to illegal migrants.[26]

In July 2021, Lithuanian Seimas passed a law (signed by president Gitanas Nausėda on 21 July) making deportation of illegal migrants from Lithuania easier.[28]

Year Number of illegal migrants
crossed Belarus—Lithuania border[29]
2017 72
2018 104
2019 46
2020 81
2021 (1 January — 25 July)[29] 2603

By August 2022 more than 13,000 people had been pushed back to Belarus since August 2021 and a 502 km 4m high fence with razor wire, along the border had been completed.[30]

After Russian invasion of Ukraine

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On 18 January 2023, Lithuanian government renounced the agreement signed with Belarus on the principles of cross-border cooperation. The bill terminated the agreement signed by the governments of Lithuania and Belarus in Vilnius on June 1, 2006, to set out areas of cross-border cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.[31]

One of the two rail crossings was closed in February 2023 because of excessive smuggling from Belarus to Lithuania and Kaliningrad.[32]

In August 2023, following a survey, Lithuania announced that 254 Russian and 910 Belarusian citizens living in Lithuania posed a threat to national security and that their residence permits will be revoked.[33][34]

Two of the six road border crossings were closed by Lithuania on 18 August 2023 due to concerns over Wagner Group mercenaries and smuggling.[35]

In 2020 tens of thousands of people from Belarus emigrated to Lithuania, including IT companies and all their staff, being granted temporary permits to live in Lithuania. Now, three years later, these permits are up for renewal, and because Belarus is seen as complicit in the invasion of Ukraine renewal questionnaires ask about politics, military service and who is responsible for the war. Vetting is also undertaken by the state security service. Overall around 10% of applications are being rejected.[36]

Resident diplomatic missions

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  • Belarus has an embassy in Vilnius and a consulate-general in Klaipėda.
  • Lithuania has an embassy in Minsk and a consulate-general in Grodno.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Minsko Lietuviai". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian).
  2. ^ "Įvedus bevizį režimą lietuviai plūsta aplankyti Gardino". Delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). 26 September 2017.
  3. ^ "Baltarusijos santykiai su Lietuva". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian).
  4. ^ a b c d e Mockienė, Jurgita; Spečiūnas, Vytautas. "Baltarusijos santykiai su Lietuva". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Šapoka, Gintautas (21 December 2020). "Aprašykime mažai žinomus 1939–1940 m. Lietuvos istorijos įvykius". Alkas.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  6. ^ "«Літоўскіх таварышаў не дражніць». У 1940-м БССР прымусілі аддаць Друскенікі, Сьвянцяны і Салечнікі". Радыё Свабода (in Belarusian).
  7. ^ Связи Литовской Республики с Республикой Беларусь
  8. ^ "The World Factbook". Archived from the original on 2 June 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  9. ^ Rokas M. Tracevskis. "Grybauskaite's historic visit to Belarus". baltictimes.com. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  10. ^ "The President discussed the Eastern Partnership and joint efforts in fighting COVID-19 with the President of Belaru". PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA.
  11. ^ "Минские переговоры – 2: как прошла встреча Паксаса и Лукашенко в Белоруссии". Baltnews (in Russian). 2 May 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  12. ^ Eastern approaches (8 August 2011). "The snitches of Vilnius". The Economist. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  13. ^ "Belarus picked site for Ostravyets NPP in violation of convention - Espoo". Delfi. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  14. ^ Haboush, Joseph (10 August 2020). "Belarus elections deemed unfair by US, Germany and others; candidate missing". Al Arabiya English. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  15. ^ "Belarusian opposition leader Tikhanouskaya in Lithuania says FM". The Jerusalem Post. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  16. ^ "Lithuania allows unrestricted entry to Belarusians 'for humanitarian purposes'". www.baltictimes.com. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  17. ^ "Lithuanian Leader Says Lukashenko Lost Legitimacy As Belarusian President". UrduPoint. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  18. ^ "Lithuania bars airport access to carriers flying over Belarus". LRT. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  19. ^ Vyriausybė nutarė – skristi į Lietuvą nebus galima, jei skrendama virš Baltarusijos
  20. ^ Lithuania Reports Large-Scale Smuggling Of Cigarettes From Belarus
  21. ^ "Lithuania says Belarus could be behind recent migrant influx". Associated Press. 7 June 2021. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023.
  22. ^ a b c d Belarus ‘weaponising’ illegal migration, Lithuania says
  23. ^ Што за турысты з Іраку сотнямі прылятаюць у Беларусь. ФОТА
  24. ^ Зачем прилетели в Минск из Багдада «120 врачей и фармацевтов»?
  25. ^ Lithuania declares state of emergency over migrant arrivals from Belarus
  26. ^ a b c d Кто стоит за потоком мигрантов из Беларуси в Литву. Расследование Reform.by
  27. ^ Baghdad to Lithuania: how Belarus opened new migration route to EU – LRT Investigation
  28. ^ Науседа подписал спорный закон о правовом статусе мигрантов
  29. ^ a b Да ўзброеных мігрантаў гатовыя. У Літве затрымалі яшчэ 133 мігрантаў на мяжы з Беларуссю
  30. ^ "Lithuania completes building fence along border with Belarus". 29 August 2022.
  31. ^ "Lithuania renounces cooperation agreement with Belarus". lrt.lt. Lithuanian National Radio and Television. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  32. ^ "Lithuania closes rail border with Belarus, too much smuggling". 16 February 2023.
  33. ^ "Lithuania deems 1,164 Belarusian and Russian nationals a threat, revokes residence permits and visas". LRT. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  34. ^ "Lithuania declares more than 1,000 Belarusians and Russians to be national security risks". ABC News. 4 August 2023.
  35. ^ "Oficialu: penktadienį uždaromi Šumsko ir Tverečiaus pasienio kontrolės punktai". LRT (in Lithuanian). 16 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  36. ^ "Belarusians no longer welcome in Lithuania?". 7 August 2023.
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