Belarusian intelligence services intensify activities against the Belarusian diaspora in Lithuania and increasingly detain Lithuanian citizens in Belarus

The sizeable Belarusian diaspora in Lithuania continues to present opportunities for Belarusian intelligence services to establish long-term intelligence positions in Lithuania. Belarusian intelligence services coerce members of the Belarusian diaspora into cooperation by threatening the security of their relatives remaining in Belarus and the right to use their own real estate or businesses in Belarus. Belarusian intelligence services are increasingly using remote communication tools to establish and maintain contacts with agents operating abroad; they are instructed to gather intelligence on Lithuanian institutions, the Belarusian diaspora, and the democratic opposition.

Belarusian intelligence targets Belarusian companies that have subsidiaries in Lithuania but continue to operate in Belarus. These companies are monitored by Belarusian intelligence officers who possess information not only on employees working in Belarus but also in Lithuania. Belarusian intelligence services pay close attention to individuals with even the slightest involvement in opposition activities, with whom they remotely establish contact, apply pressure, and try to lure them back to Belarus. If these individuals return to Belarus, they are interrogated, often detained, and recruited by intelligence services.

Despite the risk of detention, Belarusians residing in Lithuania keep visiting Belarus. Belarusian intelligence services are screening Belarusian nationals at the border to identify individuals with anti-regime attitudes, those who participated in the 2020 protests or otherwise support the opposition. Furthermore, other Belarusian agencies and institutions collaborate with intelligence services by providing information on individuals of interest and their arrival in Belarus. Individuals of interest are then subjected to various forms of pressure, including threats and psychological coercion, in an attempt to force them to appear for questioning. During the sessions, officers not only seek to gather intelligence but also attempt to recruit. Belarusian intelligence services threaten the physical safety and security of Lithuanian citizens visiting Belarus by acting in a manner that is incompatible with international law. They carry out intelligence interrogations and illegal detentions of incoming Lithuanian citizens for supporting the Belarusian opposition, followed by prosecution for their political views and criticism of the Belarusian regime. Belarusian intelligence and law enforcement authorities use extremely harsh methods and excessive force during detention.

Since 2023, Belarusian intelligence services have been building false cases against Lithuanian citizens with unfounded and politically motivated accusations. We assess that the Belarusian regime’s actions are intended to exert pressure on Lithuania for it to reconsider its policy towards Belarus and to reinforce the narrative of a Belarus surrounded by hostile countries.