Belarus And Lithuania: Similarities And Differences Explored

Belarus and Lithuania are neighbouring countries with a shared history. From the 13th century to the end of the 14th century, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania annexed the former principalities of Polotsk, Minsk, and Turov, among others, in what is now Belarus. The Slavic provinces of Lithuania were called Lithuanian Ruthenia. From 1569 to 1772, three out of nine Lithuanian voivodeships were ethnically Lithuanian, with the remaining six being Belarusian.

The two countries established diplomatic relations on 24 October 1991, shortly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Belarus attained its independence in 1991, while Lithuania became independent in 1990.

There is some debate about the ethnic and national identity of the people living in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, with some sources claiming that the majority of the population were Slavs, and others stating that Lithuanians were in the majority.

Belarus and Lithuania share a border of 680km (420mi)

The Belarus–Lithuania border is almost 679km (421.8mi) long, with 379.9km (236.1mi) on land and 298.9km (185.7mi) on water, crossing lakes such as Lake Drūkšiai and rivers such as the Dysna and Neman Rivers. The border is defined by a treaty signed between the two countries on 6 February 1995, with the ground demarcation of the border completed in 2007.

The historical borders of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and later, the governorates of the Russian Empire, varied significantly from the modern borders. The formation of the current border began after World War I, following the establishment of the Republic of Lithuania and the Lithuanian–Soviet War. The Soviet-Lithuanian Peace Treaty, signed on 12 July 1920, defined and recognised the eastern border of Lithuania. Following World War II and the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states, a new border was established between the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic within the Soviet Union. This border is the basis of the current one and has remained largely stable since 1940.

The Belarus–Lithuania border has six border crossings: Medininkai–Kamienny Loh, Lavoriškės–Kotlovka, Šalčininkai–Byenyakoni, Šumskas–Losha, Raigardas–Privalka, and Tverečius–Vidzy. However, as of March 2024, only two of the six road border crossings are open. Lithuania has imposed movement restrictions and closed some border crossings due to concerns over national security, smuggling, and violations of international sanctions.

Belarus and Lithuania established diplomatic relations on 24 October 1991

Belarus and Lithuania are two distinct countries that share a border of 680 kilometres (420 miles). They established diplomatic relations on 24 October 1991, shortly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Since ancient times, the ancestors of Belarusians and Lithuanians (Eastern Slavs and Balts) have had developing relations, as evidenced by archaeological and linguistic data. From the 13th century to the end of the 14th century, the expanding Grand Duchy of Lithuania annexed the former principalities of Polotsk, Minsk, Turov, and others in the current territory of Belarus. The Slavic provinces of Lithuania were called "Lithuanian Ruthenia" (Litovskaja Rus).

In the 20th century, Lithuania was one of the first countries to recognise the independence of Belarus in 1918. After World War II, the Soviet invasion of Poland led to the unification of Western Belorussia with Eastern Belorussia and the Soviet Union. The Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union adopted decrees regarding the transfer of territories between the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, both countries re-established their independence. On 20 December 1991, the Supreme Council of Lithuania recognised the independence of Belarus, and Belarus reciprocated seven days later. An agreement on diplomatic relations was signed in Minsk on 30 December 1992, and the Belarus–Lithuania border was defined by a treaty in February 1995.

Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, is a significant cultural and economic hub for Belarusians. It hosts multiple Belarusian civil society organisations, serves as a shopping and air transit hub, and is the birthplace of Belarusian literature. Grodno, a city in Lithuania, is also a popular tourist destination for Lithuanians due to its proximity to the border and historical importance.

Despite historical ties and shared borders, Belarus and Lithuania have distinct identities and have taken different paths since their independence. Belarus has retained closer political and economic ties with Russia, while Lithuania has restructured its economy for integration into Western European institutions, joining NATO and the EU.

Belarus and Lithuania have a history of disputes over territory

Belarus and Lithuania have a shared history that dates back to the 13th century, when the Grand Duchy of Lithuania annexed several principalities in modern-day Belarus. The Slavs of Lithuania, known as "Lithuanian Ruthenia", were subjugated by the Lithuanians and did not participate in the governance of the Grand Duchy. This period of shared history has led to disputes over the legacy of the Grand Duchy, with Lithuanians considering themselves the sole successors and Belarusians arguing that the state was predominantly Belarusian.

In the 20th century, the two nations established diplomatic relations after gaining independence from the Soviet Union. However, disputes over territory continued, with border changes in the 1940s causing tensions. After World War II, the Soviet Union established a border between the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, which remains the basis of the current border.

In recent years, the two countries have had disagreements over the Astravets Nuclear Power Plant, which Lithuania criticises for being built too close to its capital, Vilnius. In addition, Lithuania has accused Belarus of encouraging illegal migration from Iraq and Syria, leading to a state of emergency in 2021. Lithuania has also revoked the residence permits of several Belarusian and Russian citizens, citing national security concerns.

The two countries continue to have a complex relationship, with close cultural ties and shared history, but also ongoing disputes over territory, migration, and political orientation.

Belarus and Lithuania have a history of hosting each other's opposition figures

Belarus and Lithuania have a long history of shared cultural and political ties. The two countries share a border and have done so for centuries, with both being part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the 13th century to 1795. They were also briefly united in 1919 as the Lithuanian–Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic.

The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Since then, they have hosted each other's opposition figures. Belarus sheltered coup leader Vladimir Uskhopchik, while Lithuania has hosted Belarusian opposition figures, including Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is considered by many to be the true winner of the country's 2020 presidential election. Lithuania has also granted official status to the Belarusian pro-democratic opposition, led by Tsikhanouskaya.

In addition to hosting opposition figures, Lithuania has been a vocal critic of the Belarusian government, led by Alexander Lukashenko, who has been accused of rigging the 2020 election. Lithuania was the first EU state to openly reject Lukashenko's legitimacy as president. The country has also imposed sanctions on Belarus and banned flights from and to Lithuania via Belarusian airspace.

The two countries continue to have close ties, with Vilnius serving as a hub for Belarusian civil society organizations and refugees. It is also the primary foreign shopping and air transit hub for Belarusians.

Belarus and Lithuania have had disputes over the Astravets Nuclear Power Plant

The Astravets Nuclear Power Plant has been a source of contention between Belarus and Lithuania, with Lithuania expressing concerns about the plant's safety and potential environmental impact. Lithuania has been highly critical of the plant, claiming that it fails to meet international safety standards and poses a threat to national security, the environment, and public health. In 2017, the Lithuanian parliament passed legislation declaring the Astravets plant a danger to the country.

The opposition to the plant stems from Lithuania's history with the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, in which Belarus received almost 70% of the radioactive fallout. The Lithuanian perspective is that the Astravets plant, being in such close proximity, could affect its major cities in the event of an accident.

On the other hand, Belarus has defended the safety of the plant, citing successful stress tests conducted by the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG). Belarus's decision to construct the plant was influenced by a bilateral energy dispute with Russia in 2007, aiming to reduce its reliance on Russia as its primary energy supplier. The plant is powered by two 1,194-megawatt (MW) VVER-1200 units supplied by Atomstroyexport, a Russian nuclear equipment exporter.

The dispute has led to Lithuania banning power imports from nuclear plants it deems unsafe, including Astravets. This ban also extends to power trade with mainland Russia, which exports power to Lithuania via Belarus.

In response to Lithuania's concerns, the European Parliament adopted a resolution in February 2021, expressing serious concerns over the safety of the Astravets plant and calling for its commercial launch to be suspended.

Despite the disagreements, there have been some signs of compromise. In May 2024, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda acknowledged that the plant was an "irreversible reality" and emphasised the need to ensure the implementation of EU safety recommendations. Subsequently, the two countries signed an agreement to exchange information and cooperate on emergency situations at nuclear facilities.

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