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Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has consistently supported efforts to ensure human rights and to strengthen civil society in Belarus and together with other Lithuanian institutions seeks to prevent the use of bilateral legal cooperation tools for the political purposes.

In June and July interdepartmental meetings on Belarus were organized at the initiative of Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss how to protect individuals associated with the Belarusian opposition. Having received signals about possible use of bilateral legal assistance tools against members of civil society, the Foreign Ministry appealed to the other Lithuanian institutions asking them not to provide Belarus with information, which could be used to persecute the opposition.

An example of such persecution is the detention of the head of the Belarusian non-governmental organization "Vesna" Ales Belyatsky and actions of the Belarusian authorities against his human rights organization.

"This case is a warning of the negative consequences that may follow a formal decision on providing information to foreign countries, taken without regard to political recommendations of the Foreign Ministry," Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis said.

Lithuania together with EU partners will continue to seek actively the release of political prisoners in Belarus.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister constantly raises the issue of Belarus at the meetings of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. This year EU foreign ministers twice took the decision to impose financial and visa sanctions against Belarusian officials who take part in prosecution or limiting  the rights of civil society. In its conclusions the EU Foreign Affairs Council constantly urges the Belarusian authorities to stop political persecution, stifling of the independent media and demands the immediate unconditional release of political prisoners. A.Ažubalis’ meetings with representatives of Belarusian civil society are being organized.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs assisted in the establishment of the House of United Belarus, a facility for Belarusian non-governmental organizations, academics and intellectuals, who wish to continue their work in exile. The Ministry provides support to the European Humanities University  which was closed in Belarus and reopened in exile in Vilnius.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not participate in the exchange of legal and financial information between states, but has many times recommended the responsible institutions to refrain from providing Belarus with information, which can be used for political purposes, as well as for the persecution of civil society.