{"id":184402,"date":"2026-04-21T18:47:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T15:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/184402\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T18:47:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T15:47:02","slug":"lithuanian-security-chief-warns-against-starting-dialogue-with-minsk","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/184402\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuanian security chief warns against starting dialogue with Minsk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Lithuanian State Security Department's FAcebook page=<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

April 21, <\/strong>Pozirk.<\/strong> <\/em>Dialogue with Minsk could result in increased risks for Vilnius, Lithuanian State Security Department chief Remigijus Bridikis has told Lithuania’s ELTA<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The official expressed these concerns following an earlier statement by Lithuanian president\u2019s aide Deividas Matulionis, who did not rule out an engagement with Minsk at a \u201clower political level.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Security services see heightened risks in pursuing dialogue, LRT<\/em> cited Bridikis as saying. He added that his agency had warned Lithuanian decision-makers about potential risks and the possible exploitation of political talks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lithuania’s security chief stressed that the assessment of Belarus remains unchanged due to ongoing reprisals in the neighboring country and its involvement in hostile intelligence activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsk seeks to influence and manipulate Lithuania while pursuing engagement with the West, Bridikis added. Any potential economic benefits, he stressed, do not outweigh the stance of Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s regime, which continues to act against Lithuania, including in coordination with Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Coale, US special envoy for Belarus, called for political-level talks between Vilnius and Minsk last month. Coale urged both countries\u2019 diplomats to start resolving existing issues and enable trade with the European Union and the US, including exports of Belarusian potash fertilizers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On April 2, Lithuanian President Gitanas Naus\u0117da said that Vilnius expects signs of goodwill from Minsk over the next few weeks, reflecting genuine efforts to normalize relations. He set out conditions for Lithuania to start considering dialogue with the regime in Minsk. These include an end to irregular crossings by third-country migrants via Belarus and to incursions of cigarette-smuggling balloons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsk has been insisting on political-level contacts, yet Lithuania rejected direct diplomatic talks, having significantly downgraded official contacts after what it described as Belarus\u2019 rigged 2020 presidential election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vilnius views the political negotiations with Minsk as an attempt to break the international isolation of \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s regime and potentially pave the way for easing sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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