{"id":203401,"date":"2026-09-11T22:50:34","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T19:50:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/203401\/"},"modified":"2026-09-11T22:50:36","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T19:50:36","slug":"cichanouskajas-aide-holds-meetings-in-vilnius-to-discuss-preparations-for-possible-arrival-of-released-political-prisoners","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/203401\/","title":{"rendered":"Cichano\u016dskaja\u2019s aide holds meetings in Vilnius to discuss preparations for possible arrival of released political prisoners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n Dzianis Ku\u010dynski meeting with Viktorija \u010cmilyt\u0117 Nielsen\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (Sviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja\u2019s press office) <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

September 11, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Dzianis Ku\u010dynski, head of Sviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja\u2019s Office in Vilnius, met with Lithuanian politicians and a leading human rights defender on September 9 and 10 to discuss preparations for the possible arrival of Belarusian political prisoners who may be forcibly transferred to Lithuania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While meeting with presidential foreign\u2011policy adviser Donatas Augulis and Seimas Vice\u2011Speaker Viktorija \u010cmilyt\u0117\u2011Nielsen, Ku\u010dynski thanked Lithuania for facilitating the legalization of the prisoners released earlier, according to Cichano\u016dskaja\u2019s press office.  He called on Lithuanian authorities to make Lithuanian\u2011language courses for Belarusians more accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ku\u010dynski also told Lithuanian interlocutors about the situation in Belarus and voiced concerns over Russia\u2019s use of the Belarusian territory for its war against Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A separate meeting with Vytis Jurkonis, head of Freedom House\u2019s office in Lithuania, focused on preparations for assisting any newly freed prisoners who may be brought to Lithuania. \u201cIf this happens, they will need assistance from the very first day,\u201d Ku\u010dynski said. \u201cThat\u2019s why we are already coordinating our work with the Freedom House team and other organizations as to who will meet the people, where they can go for help, and what support they will receive in the first days.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The visit came ahead of an expected visit by US Special Envoy for Belarus John Coale to Minsk next week. Following his last meeting with a US delegation led by Coale on March 19, 2026, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka ordered the release of 250 political prisoners, of whom 235 were allowed to stay in Belarus and 15 were taken to Lithuania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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