The Latvian Saeima has asked EU countries to suspend the validity and issuance of tourist visas for citizens of Belarus and Russia. DW spoke with political scientist and head of Freedom House’s Lithuanian bureau, Vytis Yurkonis, about how neighboring Lithuania perceives such an initiative and how Vilnius’ visa policy has changed towards Belarusians.

DW: How is the Latvian initiative to ban the issuance of tourist visas for Belarusians and Russians in Lithuania?

Vytis Yurkonis: With understanding. But I must say that Lithuania has not issued tourist visas since the beginning of covid. And since the beginning of the war, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the suspension of issuing visas to Russians and Belarusians. So I don’t understand why you have to reinvent the wheel today. But in general, yes, now is not the time for tourism for citizens of countries at war or countries involved in war. Unfortunately, the Belarusian regime dragged Belarus into the war.

– Last year more than 9,200Belarusians received a residence permit in Lithuania. The Lithuanian government actively helped those who were forced to leave the country after mass protests. How did this situation change with the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine?

– Lithuania’s policy has not changed, but the demand for visas has changed, a leap has been visible. The number of visas issued since the beginning of the war has even increased, despite administrative restrictions and embassy staff having been reduced (in Belarus – Red.). The type of these requests has also changed. One thing was when human rights organizations applied for visas, there was also a huge influx from the IT sector. But after the war, there was an increase in requests from young people – from recruits to businessmen who ran their Belarusian businesses until the summer of 2022, and now it has become more difficult for them to work due to sanctions. There is also a moral aspect. After all, tens if not hundreds of thousands of Belarusians were forced to leave their homeland due to persecution. They had a life there, a job and the graves of relatives. They cannot travel to their home country. And the main task of the international community and the Belarusian democratic community is not to think about how to take all of Belarus, but how to return Belarusians to their homeland, how to ensure that they can safely return to their country. I think every Belarusian should realize this and answer the question: is the KGB threatening me, why am I taking, for example, my mother-in-law, relatives? Is it because there is a threat to them in Belarus, or is it because I feel more comfortable, calmer?

“Most Lithuanians sympathize with Belarusians”

– But you, as a human rights activist, after August 2020 also helped many people to move. Now, two years later, you for–see differently? Do you think the mass exodus of people was wrong?

– The mass exodus continues. Unfortunately, there have been many abuses. People said: I am Belarusian, so there is a danger. I think that the example of Lithuania shows that assistance to victims, to human rights defenders, has always been and continues to be. But neither Brussels, nor Berlin, nor Vilnius can be tasked with wiping out all of Belarus.

– How Lithuanian citizens relate to the fact that in the countrymany Belarusians showed up?

– Ordinary Lithuanians were very supportive of Belarusians, especially at the beginning of the 2020 protests. Tens of thousands of people were in the “human stream” from Vilnius to the Belarusian border. Financial assistance was also provided. Of course, now the topic of Belarus is taking a back seat because of the war in Ukraine. But, of course, sit down (in Lithuanian cities – Red.) and the Belarusian language, and the fact that the Russian-speaking population is growing – not only because of Belarusians, but also because of Ukrainians and Russians. This makes itself felt in both real estate prices and rental home prices. But I think most Lithuanians sympathize with Belarusians, they remember their history. There is a geographical, historical and, it seems to me, human proximity that underlies Lithuania’s political will to help democratic Belarus.

“Political will does not change”

– Does anyone contact you with discrimination complaints??

– Not really. To be honest, most are treated with words of gratitude. That’s really a lot. We have, of course, heard concerns about visa policy changes. I understand this, because people are in a foreign country, because repressions continue in their country. But from what I hear from Lithuanian officials, it can be concluded that the political will does not change. There is an understanding of the situation in which Belarusians find themselves. Lithuania continues to talk about this not only in its own country or in the Baltic countries, but also in Brussels.

– According to the latest Eurostat data, 2021 149,000 Belarusians left for the European Union. Why is this bad for the country?

– For Belarus, this is a drain of brains, talents and people. We think that most of these people are supporters of change, although among them there are those who took advantage of the situation. We saw that it partially worked after 2010. Then people left to train, some of them later came back with their skills, with their potential. They were at the forefront of the movement for change. Therefore, the main task is the preservation of social capital. So even if people move to Prague, Berlin, Stockholm or Vilnius, they keep fighting. This is a huge job that requires a lot of will and patience. But nobody said that everything will come true in one day. The Belarusian revolution is more like a marathon.