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VILNIUS, January 25, 2012 (AFP) - Lithuania on Wednesday denounced a court ruling in neighbouring Belarus that upheld the jailing of a top human rights leader, saying it simply increased the ex-Soviet state's isolation.

"This politically-motivated court decision shows that Belarus has chosen the path of further damaging relations with the EU and further self-isolation," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The ministry called "deplorable" Tuesday's ruling that upheld a four-and-a-half year jail sentence against Ales Beliatsky, even though he had paid the fine portion of his penalty for tax evasion.

Beliatsky, head of the Vyasna (Spring) rights group, was jailed in November after the court used bank account details provided by Lithuania and fellow EU member Poland.

Both countries claimed Belarus had abused tax-information exchange accords and issued formal apologies for cooperating with the regime.

Vyasna is banned in Belarus and forced to keep its main offices and bank accounts abroad.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has used the trial to bolster his allegations that EU nations have been trying to organise local opposition groups in a bid to overthrow the authorities and win control of the country's industries.

The struggling ex-Soviet republic has turned into one of the world's most isolated states under the nearly 18-year leadership of Lukashenko, who was once dubbed the last dictator of Europe by the United States.

Belarus currently faces sanctions and travel restrictions from both the EU and the United States.

Like Belarus, Lithuania won independence from the crumbling Soviet Union in 1991.

But in contrast, Lithuania is firmly anchored in the West, having joined the European Union and NATO in 2004, and provides a haven for Belarus activists.