Belarus

Protesters demanding a free election in Belarus are no longer the opposition, they are the majority, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the former Belarusian opposition presidential candidates, says, adding that there's an ongoing peaceful democratic revolution in Belarus.

While the situation in Belarus with protests intensifies more and more Lithuanians share their support for Belarusians that are fighting for their freedom. Citizens are not the only ones that support people of neighbours. Lithuanian businesses join also.

Lithuania has on Monday handed in a diplomatic note to Belarus over an alleged violation of Lithuania's airspace during the formation of a human chain, the Freedom Way, in Lithuania on Sunday.

The world can no longer play the double game with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's regime and it needs to be politically and diplomatically isolated, ex-Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite says.

A human chain called "The Freedom Way" was formed in Lithuania from Vilnius to Medininkai on Sunday in solidarity with Belarus' civil society fighting for democratic changes in the country.

The Lithuanian seaport of Klaipeda and Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways, LTG) have not yet been affected by strikes in Belarus that involve some of their customers, Lithuanian Transport Minister Jaroslav Neverovic said on Friday.

The Lithuanian seaport of Klaipeda is the most cost-effective and efficient route for Belarusian exports, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis said amid reports that some port operators might be affected by strikes in the neighboring country.

Belarusians demand a new presidential election and the authorities must hear their voice, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the opposition challenger in Belarus' disputed presidential election, said in Vilnius on Friday, adding that other states cannot interfere in her country's affairs.

Lithuania has prepared a list of national sanctions against the Belarussian regime, Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said on Wednesday evening.

The positions of neighboring countries, including Lithuania, should be taken into account during the upcoming remote European Council meeting on Belarus on Wednesday, ex-Lithuanian Ambassador to the EU Jovita Neliupsiene says.

The Lithuanian parliament adopted on Tuesday a resolution calling for the non-recognition of Belarus' recent presidential election and sanctions against officials in the neighboring country.

Lithuanian conservatives have suggested imposing national sanctions against 39 members of the Belarussian regime, including President Alexander Lukashenko, his sons Viktor and Dmitry, Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, election officials and the heads of security agencies.

Lithuanian MEP Petras Austrevicius says he could not travel to Belarus and his Polish counterpart Robert Biedron was deported from Minsk.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda plans to take part in the formation of a human chain from Vilnius to the Belarusian border on August 23 when the anniversary of the Baltic Way is marked.

Чтобы поддержать белорусов, выступающих против фальсификации результатов выборов и насилия милиции, литовские общественники собирают средства, а 23 августа - в день "Балтийского пути" - планируется живая цепь от Вильнюса до границы с Беларусью.

Alexander Lukashenko cannot be regarded as the legitimate president of Belarus because the presidential election was not free and democratic, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has told foreign media.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius has said he will suggest imposing EU sanctions against Belarus' officials responsible for vote-rigging and violence against protesters.

Four Presidents issued a joint statement calling upon the President of Belarus to de-escalate the situation and terminate the use of force against people immediately, urgently release all detained protesters and immediately initiate a dialogue with the Belarusian people.

В Беларуси пятый день продолжаются протесты. Люди выходят на улицы, протестуя против итогов президентских выборов, на которых, по официальным данным, в шестой раз победил Александр Лукашенко.

Editors of Lithuanian media outlets sent on Thursday a message of solidarity to their persecuted colleagues in Belarus, saying they are ready to help the independent media in the neighboring country.