October 14, Pozirk. Lithuanian authorities have not yet taken a final decision to downgrade the security detail for Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja, Asta Skaisgirytė, the Lithuanian president’s chief adviser, told Žinių radijas.
Officials are still debating the issue, while Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda expressed support for continued protection of Cichanoŭskaja, noting that the decision should be made by security services concerned, LRT reported, quoting her as saying.
It must be “a political decision,” and Vilnius cannot treat it as a technicality, Skaisgirytė stressed, noting that the government’s “task is to ensure that she [Cichanoŭskaja] feels safe in Lithuania.”
Earlier this month, Lithuanian media reported that Vilnius would downgrade security for Cichanoŭskaja. The news drew an immediate backlash, including from former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.
Vilnius allegedly transferred responsibility for Cichanoŭskaja security from the Security Service to the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau, which typically handles witness protection.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė told journalists on October 8 that security was being modified based on the level of threats, stressing that Vilnius would continue to protect the Belarusian pro-democracy leader.
Cichanoŭskaja’s office said it had been given a very short notice of possible new security arrangements and had been forced to suspend operations to make necessary adjustments. It added that it had not received details of the new arrangement.
The team discussed the issue with Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, who reportedly reaffirmed Lithuania’s unchanged position towards Alaksandar Łukašenka’s regime and assured that Cichanoŭskaja remains an official guest of the Lithuanian government.
