Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov slammed Lithuania’s alleged “undemocratic methods” to support the Belarusian opposition.
"We see attempts to unbalance the situation,” said Lavrov, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency. “As a matter of fact, no one is concealing this.”
"Our Lithuanian neighbours have already overstepped all bounds of decency in the demands that they are putting forth,” said Lavrov at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. “And we have reasons to presume that they are working with Svetlana Tikhanovskaya via undemocratic methods [...] that do not show much respect for the sovereignty of Belarus."
Lavrov didn’t present any concrete evidence to support his claims.
Responding to Lavrov's statement, Lithuania's Foreign Minister said Lithuania had no intention of meddling into Belarus' affairs, but it would assist people prosecuted by the Minsk government.
“Lithuania has not and will not interfere into domestic affairs of Belarus, as it has no right or intention of doing so. However, Lithuania has and will help people of Belarus whose safety is in danger,” Linkevičius told in a statement to the Elta news agency.
“In the opinion of Lithuania and other EU countries, a new and transparent election, accepted by both the people of Belarus and the international community, is what could take Belarus out of the political deadlock.”
Baltic and Lithuanian officials, including President Gitanas Nausėda, have previously offered to mediate between the regime in Minsk and the opposition. Foreign Minister Linkevičius also said that new and fair elections are the only way out of the current crisis.
Thousands of people in Belarus have protested continuously since the disputed August 9 presidential election, which saw Alexander Lukashenko declare victory.
Lithuanian officials say they are providing shelter for Tikhanovskaya, who arrived on August 11 after facing a “direct threat”, according to the Lithuanian foreign minister.
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