Lithuania Reduced The Level Of Physical Protection Of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaia
- 7.10.2025, 12:43
The head of the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry explained the reason.
Lithuania is reducing the level of physical protection of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaia, who lives in Vilnius. This was announced to the portal LRT by Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys.
The protection of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaia is reportedly not being completely canceled, but the level of her physical protection is being reduced, and the protection is being transferred from the Leadership Protection Service (Vadovybės apsaugos tarnyba) to the Criminal Police Bureau, which provides protection not as a public figure, but as a person who may be objectively threatened by a certain danger. For example, the Criminal Police Bureau provides protection for witnesses and victims.
Unofficially, the decision began to be implemented on October 1 with a transition period.
"The question of what level of protection to apply and what measures to use is decided by the services based on the security assessment. I know very well how this work was done when I myself was involved in it in 2020-2021. How it is organized now could be commented on by the services themselves, but the entire range of threats and risks is assessed: the activities of hostile intelligence services, criminal aspects, provocations, attacks, etc., the environment is analysed, and based on this, a decision is made as to what measures should be applied," Kęstutis Budrys told LRT.
"Based on the decisions, security assessment and risk analysis, the Management Protection Service decided to reduce the level of protection applied. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaia and her office were informed of this decision, and I myself also spoke to her about it," the minister added.
Since Tsikhanouskaia's arrival in Lithuania, she has been granted the status of an official guest of category C, a status usually granted to ambassadors of foreign states, heads of representative offices of international organizations accredited in Lithuania, members of foreign governments, members of the European Commission and other persons of similar level. However, she does not have diplomatic status and, accordingly, immunity.
The security service of the leadership refused to comment on the reduction of the level of physical protection of Tsikhanouskaia.
"In order not to endanger the protected person, we cannot comment publicly on this topic - neither to confirm nor to deny information about the strengthening or weakening of security. The security measures applied are classified information," First Deputy Director of the State Leadership Protection Service Paulius Nemira told the LRT portal.
According to sources, Tsikhanouskaia's protection and related expenses cost the state about 1 million euros a year. This amount included round-the-clock physical protection in Lithuania and abroad, escort cars, maintenance of accommodation, and use of VIP terminals at airports.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response to a request from Seimas deputy Rimas Jankunas, officially indicated that Tsikhanouskaia's security was not within its competence. However, the ministry pays for the services of VIP lounges for official guests. In 2024, the expenses for VIP terminals for Tsikhanouskaia amounted to 129 thousand euros, in 2023 - 92 thousand euros.
According to Foreign Minister Budrys, despite the reduction of physical security, Tsikhanouskaia will still be able to use VIP terminals in accordance with protocol rules, as this right is associated with the status of a Category C guest.
"This right and possibility will be preserved, as they derive from her guest status," the minister said.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaia has so far been guarded 24 hours a day by members of the service, which provides security for all leaders of the Lithuanian state - the president, the speaker of the Seimas and the prime minister. In addition to current officials, the service protects former presidents, as well as official guests of the country.
Unofficially, Lithuania's decision did not please Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaia. There are rumors that the representative office of the Belarusian democracy is looking for opportunities to work with the residency in Poland, but Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said he has no such information.
"No, I don't have such information. We have discussed security issues. As I said, this legal status in Lithuania is preserved, I believe there are many cases and plans that both the office and the Belarusian opposition are planning. I hope that our cooperation will continue. I don't see how these issues can be connected," Budrys said.