Raimundas Lopata
Uncategorized

Lithuanian political scientist says Belarus could be next victim or Russian aggression

After a visit to Minsk, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius said that Lithuania had to maintain a dialogue with the government of Belarus. The minister pointed out that despite events in Ukraine, Western leaders continue to meet with Vladimir Putin, so why the dialogue with Minsk would be impossible? […]

Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko
Uncategorized

Amid Crisis, Belarus re-examines its political and security situation

Belarus will host the latest round of talks between Ukraine and Russia in Minsk on 1 August as Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko continues to push his country as a mediator in the crisis. Lukashenko’s motivation is not altruistic, however, as Belarus is not immune to the competition between Russia and the West over the strategic borderland countries of the former Soviet periphery. […]

Alexander Lukashenko
Uncategorized

Why does Lukashenko speak Belarusian on Independence Day?

Belarus’s Independence Day is celebrated on 3 July. On that day, 70 years ago, Minsk was liberated from the Nazi occupiers. This 3 July, President Vladimir Putin of Russia participated in Minsk’s celebration. Two days prior to that event, during a grand ceremonial meeting devoted to the national holiday, President Alexander Lukashenko delivered part of his speech in Belarusian. […]

Monument for Grand Duke Algirdas in Vitebsk, Belarus. Photo by tut.by
Opinion

Opinion: Why are our neighbours poaching our history?

It is a country’s business what monument, where and how it will be built or demolished. For instance, the Poles have built a statue of urinating Lenin, the Lithuanians seem not to be able to wipe out the symbols of the Soviet reality overlooking the capital from the Green Bridge (should we hold a referendum?), and the Russians may return the Stalingrad name to Volgograd or call it Putingrad – of course, with many busts of the “leader of nations” or the current militant president… […]

Belarusian flag
Foreign affairs

Lithuanians, Belarusians could have closer ties – PM

The development of Lithuanian-Belarusian ties could become the basis for closer communication between the two nations, Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius said on Thursday, congratulating his Belarusian counterpart Mikhail Myasnikovich on Belarus’ Independence Day. […]