{"id":122072,"date":"2025-01-16T20:36:26","date_gmt":"2025-01-16T17:36:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/122072\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"new-belarus-passport-sparks-anxieties-among-lithuanian-politicians","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/122072\/","title":{"rendered":"New Belarus passport sparks anxieties among Lithuanian politicians"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n \"\"\n
\n
\n\n Lithuania's coat of arms Vytis\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (freepik.com)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

January 16, Pozirk<\/em>. <\/strong>Plans by Vilnius-based Belarusian opposition politicians to print passports for exiled opponents have sparked a debate in Lithuania over the use of the Pahonia coat of arms, which is similar to Lithuania\u2019s official emblem depicting a mounted knight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commenting on similarities between Lithuania\u2019s Vytis and Belarus’ Pahonia (Pursuit), the Lithuanian foreign ministry told the ELTA news agency that Vytis is different from the coat of arms used on the passport of democratic Belarus, Delfi<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lithuanian government is not involved in the Belarusian pro-democracy forces’ initiative, the ministry stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Propaganda is using the theme of state symbols to pit Lithuanians against the Belarusian pro-democracy forces, it said, noting that the debate was incited by Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka’s regime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Remigijus Motuzas, chairman of Lithuania’s parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, cautioned against recognizing the alternative Belarusian passport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This step is somewhat hasty. A more thorough analysis and consultations are needed. The passport is both the Schengen zone and the EU space. This is an extremely sensitive issue,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He pointed out that Belarusians in Lithuania should apply for residence permits or asylum instead. He suggested that New Belarus passports should be a symbolic paper rather than an ID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked about the coat of arms depicted on the passport, Motuzas said: “My first reaction was negative as if this was some aspiration for Lithuanian statehood. However, we should talk to members of \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja’s office. Perhaps they just wanted to show that they live here and are loyal to our symbols.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier, MPs from the Homeland Union \u2013 Lithuanian Christian Democrats party expressed concern the passport features the Lithuanian coat of arms, apparently confusing it with Pahonia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n \"\"\n
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\n\n New Belarus passport\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (UTC)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Despite the controversy, the Belarusian opposition passport center in Vilnius intends to print the IDs soon. On January 14, project manager Marius Gudelaitis said the pro-democracy forces were considering launching similar centers in Poland and Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The passport center will start accepting applications on January 26. The formal launch of the acceptance process is timed to coincide with a presidential poll in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian opposition launched the passport initiative after Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka signed an edict in September 2023, ordering Belarusian missions abroad to stop providing passport services to Belarusians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commenting on prospects of New Belarus passport recognition, opposition leader \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja said, in May 2024: \u201cIf one leader steps forward and says: \u2018I will not allow dictators to think that people are their property, that they can destroy hundreds of thousands of families,\u2019 others would follow, I am absolutely sure of it. If a hundred countries recognize this document, the rest would do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also read: New Belarus passport launch timed to coincide with \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s election<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

January 16, Pozirk. Plans by Vilnius-based Belarusian opposition politicians to print passports for exiled opponents have sparked a debate in Lithuania over the use of the Pahonia coat of arms, which is similar to Lithuania\u2019s official emblem depicting a mounted knight. Commenting on similarities between Lithuania\u2019s Vytis and Belarus’ Pahonia (Pursuit), the Lithuanian foreign ministry […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":83,"featured_media":121682,"template":"","rubric":[16],"class_list":["post-122072","articles","type-articles","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","rubric-politics"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nNew Belarus passport sparks anxieties among Lithuanian politicians | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"January 16, Pozirk. 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