Maximas Znak removes protest poster from Belarus embassy in Vilnius

Belarusian lawyer, writer and musician Maximas Znak, released after nearly five years of imprisonment in Belarus, on Monday removed a poster bearing his image that had been displayed outside the Belarusian embassy in Vilnius as a symbol of solidarity with political prisoners, reports LRT.

Around 40 people gathered for the event, including diplomatic corps members, representatives of the Belarusian community, supporters of political prisoners, staff from the US embassy in Lithuania, and members of the Lithuanian Bar Association, who had initiated the poster’s installation two years ago.

Participants greeted Znak with applause and chanted “Long live Belarus” in Belarusian. Some held the flags of Lithuania and the non-recognised Belarusian opposition.

“Hello everyone. I am very happy that so many people gathered, because I thought this was a special evening— not for everyone,” Znak joked. He said he had agreed without hesitation to the invitation to remove his own image from the wall.

“When I was asked to come and take myself down from the wall, I immediately agreed. I think people need to be taken down from walls,” he said.

Znak also recalled that after his release, some friends had asked why his image was still displayed outside the embassy. “And there are still my friends who asked why, after my release, it is still hanging here,” he joked.

Before removing the poster, Znak thanked his supporters, including his Belarusian lawyers, who he said had defended him until the end and even sang his songs when they could no longer do more. He also expressed gratitude to the Lithuanian Bar Association for initiating the poster and to representatives of the US embassy in Lithuania for their support.

“I am very grateful to the Lithuanian Bar Association for creating such a sign and supporting me all this time,” Znak said.

After the removal, the poster was replaced with a photograph by Belarusian photographer Denis Veiko titled “Connection,” which has become a symbol of peaceful protests and solidarity in Belarus.

Znak, a lawyer for former Belarusian presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka and a member of the opposition Coordination Council, was detained in September 2020 and sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2021. The international community considered his case politically motivated. He was released in December 2025 after nearly five years in detention.

In 2021, Znak and other Belarusian lawyers received the CCBE Human Rights Award from the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe for their defence of human rights and the rule of law. The same year, he was also awarded a special prize by the International Bar Association for his outstanding contribution to human rights.