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Belarus
Defence
Spying suspect tells court Belarusian agent was interested in US planes landing in Vilnius
Lithuanian citizen Romuald Lipskij, a former employee of state company Oro Navigacija (Air Navigation), accused of spying for Belarus, says Sergey Kurulenko, an agent of the Chief Intelligence Board of the Belarusian Armed Forces’ General Staff, wanted to know the numbers of US planes landing in Vilnius Airport. […]
Society
Uncategorized
Russia’s military games for Baltic and Polish civilians and youth
With the Russian 9th of May celebrations of Soviet victory in World War Two approaching, many in the Baltic States are concerned about the potential risk of provocations or confrontation stemming from the more radical and disgruntled elements of the local Russian minority. Moreover, since Russia launched a shadow war in eastern Ukraine in 2014, NATO, American, and European governments have been increasingly concerned about the risks of hybrid warfare in Poland and the Baltic region. […]
Culture
Belt believed to belong to Grand Duke Vytautas on display in Vilnius
Segments of a belt, believed to be worn by Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas, go on display at the Grand Dukes Palace in Vilnius. […]
Society
US professor appointed to head Belarusian university in Vilnius
Professor David Pollick from the United States has been appointed as rector of the European Humanities University, a Vilnius-based Belarusian school. […]
Foreign affairs
Defence
Judge removed in Lithuanian paramedic spying case
Vilnius Regional Judge Stasys Lemežis has been removed from hearing the case of Lithuanian army paramedic Andrei Oshurkov who is suspected of having spied for Belarus. […]
Uncategorized
Putin’s Russia: What did Nemtsov’s assassination reveal about the current regime?
Assassination of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was a shocking wake-up call for many all over the globe. Circumstances were more than eloquent – bullets hit Nemtsov right in front of Kremlin and merely one day before the planned protest march. […]
Society
Embassy staff member busted with smuggled cigarettes
Lithuanian customs officers have found smuggled cigarettes inside a car belonging to a foreign embassy in Lithuania, the Lithuanian Customs said on Friday. […]
Uncategorized
Lukashenko interested in Ukraine war continuing, Belarusian opposition leader says
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is interested in the continuity of the Ukrainian war as it helps to disguise his country’s internal problems and avoid the West’s criticism for non-democratic processes, says Anatoly Lyabedzko, one of the Belarusian opposition leaders. […]
Society
Spying case: Belarusian KGB agent used to live in Lithuania, witness says
The Belarusian KGB agent, Sergey Kurulenko, who collected information in Lithuania used to live in the Baltic country and even graduated from a school here. His mother and sister also live in Lithuania, it emerged during a hearing of Vilnius Regional Court on Thursday. […]
Economy
Lithuanian Customs to focus on Belarusian border
With the flow of illegal goods from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad declining, the Lithuanian Customs this year plan to focus more on the border with Belarus. […]
Uncategorized
Russia’s neighbours concerned about Kremlin’s foreign policy, OSCE PA vice-president says
Vilija Aleknaitė-Abramikienė, Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE PA), says that the OSCE PA attitude towards Russia changed considerably during its winter session. […]
European Union
“Riga Process” moves ahead towards creating EU Energy Union
Lithuania’s Minister of Energy Rokas Masiulis paid a visit to Riga to take part in a conference on the creation of the European Energy Union. Latvia is currently presiding over the Council of the European Union. The Lithuanian energy minister says such union might contribute to dealing with issues which are given insufficient attention on the current EU agenda and which lack European-level support. […]
Foreign affairs
Lithuania opens new visa centres in Belarus
On Friday, 6 February, Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs opened new visa issuance centres for the citizens of Belarus in Minsk, Gomel, Grodno and Brest. […]
Society
Economy
Businesses exporting to Belarus should expect obstacles, warns Lithuanian ambassador
As Belarus has joined the Eurasian Economic Union, companies developing their production in this country will enjoy new opportunities, however, businesses exporting to Belarus or transit of goods should expect certain difficulties, says Evaldas Ignatavičius, Lithuania’s ambassador to Belarus. […]
Uncategorized
Lithuania praises Belarus’ position on Ukraine
Lithuania has praised Belarus, saying its position on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict is “very positive” as well as Minsk’s decision not to join Moscow’s sanctions against EU member states. Lithuanian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrius Krivas expressed the position after his visit to Minsk. […]
Society
Lithuania discusses future of Belarusian university-in-exile
On 30 January, at a meeting in Vilnius, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius urged representatives of all governing bodies of the European Humanities University (EHU) to unite for a common goal, ensure smooth operations of the university, and meet its commitments to the students, the Belarusian society and international donor community, Lithuania’s MFA said. […]