Lithuania grants diplomatic status to Office of Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Vilnius
At Monday’s briefing with Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis presented diplomatic status to the Belarusian Democracy Representative Office.
Thus, Lithuania launched a new stage in the delegitimisation of Lukashenka’s regime, becoming the first EU country to grant a diplomatic status to the office of Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, her team reports.
The politician expressed gratitude to Lithuanian authorities for their uncompromised position and huge support for all Belarusians, calling Lithuanianx ‘friends indeed who know the price of freedom’.
“Today’s presentation of diplomatic status to our office is an important step to delegitimise Lukashenka’s regime and reiterate the new Belarusian majority. This status means that the people of Belarus now have representation in the European Union country. Last but not least, it is another great example of Lithuania’s solidarity and fraternity,” she stressed.
The representation has been accredited following an appeal by Tsikhanouskaya, the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.
“This decision illustrates Lithuania’s continuing support for non-governmental organizations and civil society in Belarus. This step has been taken against the backdrop of the illegitimate Lukashenka regime’s ongoing repression and violence against the people of Belarus, who are fighting for their rights and freedoms, and a democratic future of their country. We hope that this will help representatives of the democratic forces of Belarus to be heard in foreign countries,” the press service quotes Gabrielius Landsbergis.
According to Tsikhanouskaya, the work is already underway to open the Belarusian people’s representation offices in other countries.
