Lithuanian activist expresses admiration for Belarus in court, faces charges of aiding foreign state

A Lithuanian court heard testimony on Tuesday from Erika Švenčionienė, who openly praised Belarus during proceedings where she stands accused of aiding a foreign state against Lithuania and denying Soviet-era crimes, LRT reports.

Švenčionienė, a member of the now-dissolved “International Good Neighbourhood Forum” founded by convicted Russian spy Algirdas Paleckis, appeared in Vilnius Regional Court alongside co-defendants Kazimieras Juraitis and Valerijus Ivanov. The group is alleged to have travelled to Belarus in 2022 to participate in pro-regime propaganda, glorify its leadership, and denigrate opposition activists.

During questioning, Švenčionienė repeatedly strayed from the charges, instead extolling Belarus as “all beautiful, all good” and complaining about Ukrainian flags displayed near the courthouse. “Maybe we should hang Israeli or Iranian flags next?” she remarked, insisting she wanted to be tried “without foreign flags.” Judge Mindaugas Povilanskas reminded her that the flags symbolised “friendship between nations.”

She claimed her group’s mission was to promote “as much love for neighbours as possible before death,” while deflecting questions about her 2022 observation of Belarus’s constitutional referendum—a vote widely criticised as undemocratic. Švenčionienė admitted meeting Eugenijus Stepanenko, identified by Lithuania’s State Security Department as a Belarusian KGB officer, calling him a “very pleasant, short-statured man” who paid for her meals and sent her newspapers. She denied recalling further details but confirmed inviting him to Lithuania.

Prosecutors allege that Švenčionienė and Juraitis, as part of a coordinated group, repeatedly acted in Lithuania, Belarus, and Russia in 2022 to assist Russian and Belarusian state entities in activities hostile to Lithuania. Švenčionienė also faces charges of publicly endorsing or trivialising Soviet-era international crimes.

The “International Good Neighbourhood Forum,” led by Paleckis—currently serving a prison sentence for spying for Russia—was liquidated in 2022 amid the investigation. Švenčionienė’s hearing continues as part of the broader case.