Lithuania’s justice minister acknowledges challenges after convicted activist flees to Belarus
Lithuania’s Justice Minister Rita Tamašunienė has stated that the departure of convicted activist Antanas Kandrotas, known as Celofanas, to Belarus highlights the need for stronger legal cooperation with third countries, state broadcaster LRT reports.
Speaking in the Seimas (parliament) on Tuesday, Tamašunienė noted that Lithuania has almost no legal cooperation with Belarus, making it unsurprising that a repeat offender would seek refuge there. “We need to understand our relationship with third countries. With Belarus specifically, we have practically one agreement under which some cooperation still functions,” she said. “In this specific case, it’s understandable why a recidivist is coming to us from that country.”
The minister added that while Lithuania successfully collaborates with some nations on extradition, others—including Belarus—show little willingness to cooperate. She called for broader discussions on addressing such challenges, particularly in combating impunity.
Kandrotas, a repeat offender facing multiple charges, confirmed to news outlet Delfi that he had flown to Minsk on Monday. “I arrived in Belarus yesterday, flew by plane. No one stopped me at the border—this is my second trip here this year,” he said. In a video posted on Telegram, he claimed to be resolving “serious issues” in Minsk, stating, “As they say, we love the homeland not with words, but with deeds.”
Despite a court-ordered travel restriction, Kandrotas maintains he did not violate the terms, arguing his absence does not obstruct ongoing legal proceedings. He is currently appealing a four-year prison sentence for his role in 2021 riots near the Seimas, where he was designated a recidivist. Separately, he was convicted in March for inciting hatred against former MP Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius over his sexual orientation and for public order violations, receiving a one-year sentence—also under appeal.
A Vilnius district court is additionally examining charges against Kandrotas for allegedly assaulting activist Valdas Bartkevičius in public.