Lithuania’s stance on Belarus unchanged despite government program wording shift

The Lithuanian presidency says a change in wording in the new government’s program does not alter the country’s position on Belarus, BNS reports.

President’s domestic policy advisor Paulius Baltokas told Žinių radio that Lithuania’s stance within the European Union remains unchanged, as the Belarusian regime itself has not changed. He noted that altering the phrasing used to describe the regime does not change its essence.

Baltokas also confirmed that Lithuania’s position on EU sanctions against Belarus remains firm. Sanctions on potash fertilizers, for example, remain in effect until mid-February next year, and he sees no reason for any shift in policy.

The new government, led by incoming Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius, adjusted its program’s language compared to the outgoing cabinet. While the previous program under Ingrida Ruginienė included a commitment to “active measures to maintain the international isolation of Russia and Belarus,” the new version only mentions Russia’s isolation in the same section. Belarus is referenced later, with a pledge to “strengthen isolation and pressure” if it continues to support Russia’s aggression against Ukraine or conducts hybrid attacks against the EU or Ukraine.

The new program also slightly modifies rhetoric regarding the Astravets nuclear power plant, emphasizing the raising of safety concerns in international formats and urging Belarus to comply with the highest nuclear safety and environmental standards. The previous program had described the plant’s operation as a constant threat and vowed to keep the issue on the EU’s political agenda until all environmental and nuclear safety concerns were resolved.

When asked about the threat posed by the Astravets plant, Baltokas stressed that the regime as a whole—not a single facility—poses the danger to Lithuania. “I don’t think it’s about one specific object. Essentially, the regime, with all its hybrid attacks and all its facilities, remains a hostile regime to Lithuania,” he said.

The new government is being formed after the Social Democrats restructured the ruling coalition, excluding the “Nemuno aušra” party and including the Democratic Union “For Lithuania.” The Seimas must approve the government’s program before the new cabinet can begin work, with the document set to be presented to parliament on Tuesday.