{"id":185191,"date":"2026-04-27T18:30:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T15:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/185191\/"},"modified":"2026-04-27T18:30:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T15:30:05","slug":"bialacki-meets-with-lithuanian-pm-to-discuss-rights-abuses-in-belarus-accountability-for-lukasenka-regime","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/185191\/","title":{"rendered":"Bialacki meets with Lithuanian PM to discuss rights abuses in Belarus, accountability for \u0141uka\u0161enka regime"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Laima Penek \/ Lithuanian government's press office)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

April 27, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ale\u015b Bialacki had a meeting in Vilnius on April 27 with Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginien\u0117 to discuss the human rights situation in Belarus, accountability for Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s regime and measures for increasing international pressure on Minsk, reported the press office of the Lithuanian government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ruginien\u0117 reportedly assured Bialacki, head of the Viasna Human Rights Center, that that Lithuania continues to demand an end to politically motivated persecution in Belarus and the release of all political prisoners. \u201cLithuania\u2019s position remains consistent: political repression in Belarus must cease, and all political prisoners must be released,\u201d the press office said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Viasna, Bialacki stressed the need for the further application of the mechanisms of the International Criminal Court to the events in Belarus. Bialacki and Ruginien\u0117 paid particular attention to the regime\u2019s pressure on European Humanities University in exile in Vilnius and politically motivated persecution in Belarus in general, the center said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also discussed activities of trade unions and cooperation with the International Labor Organization as well as integration of forced Belarusian emigrants in Lithuania and the efficiency of the sanctions policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Belarus\u2019 pro-democracy forces, Lithuania remains one of the key partners in the region, providing support to civil society initiatives and educational projects, the Viasna Human Rights Center said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bialacki also had a meeting with Lithuanian lawmaker Laurynas Kas\u010di\u016bnas, who is known for campaigning for restrictions on Belarusians in Lithuania, including most recently a bill that would suspend the issuance of first-time residence permits to citizens of Belarus. The meeting reportedly focused on \u201cissues of democratic sustainability and human rights protection.\u201d Bialacki and Kas\u010di\u016bnas also discussed the \u201cimportance of preserving Belarusian culture and identity in exile.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 12, 2026, the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague announced the launch of an investigation into Lithuania\u2019s allegations that the Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka regime has committed transboundary crimes against humanity as part of its crackdown on opponents starting 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On April 16, Lithuania lodged a strong protest with Belarus over Minsk\u2019s move to designate European Humanities University (EHU) as an \u201cextremist\u201d group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On April 23, Lithuania\u2019s parliament (Seimas) extended national sanctions against citizens of Belarus and Russia until December 31, 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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