Bold claim: Tsikhanouskaya’s team is preparing to relocate their operations from Vilnius to Warsaw, signaling a potentially major shift in how Belarusian opposition leadership operates from exile. And this is the part most people miss: the move isn’t confirmed with a fixed date or a full roster, leaving room for partial relocation or continued activity from Vilnius.
Several anonymous sources familiar with the situation have indicated that the office of Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is planning to shift its base to Warsaw, Poland. One source told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) that the decision has been made, but details about timing and staff follow-through remain unclear. It’s possible that only a portion of the team will accompany Tsikhanouskaya, with some personnel continuing to operate from Vilnius.
Tsikhanouskaya’s adviser, Denis Kuchynski, did not confirm the move but said he was awaiting Lithuania’s decision on further security arrangements for the opposition leader. He noted that Tsikhanouskaya is currently protected by the Government Security Service, and any additional steps would depend on government security decisions. While the team would have preferred to remain in Vilnius, they began exploring alternatives after the security level was lowered in October.
On October 7, Lithuania reduced the security level provided to Tsikhanouskaya from the Government Security Service following another risk assessment. In response, the office stopped accepting in-person visitors. Prime Minister Inga Rudīniē (Inga Ruginienė) stated that security measures had not been canceled, only adjusted, and President Gitanas Nausėda downplayed the criticism from several Lithuanian politicians, arguing the changes were not as alarming as portrayed.
Security coverage temporarily returned to the previous level on October 17 while a new security regime was being established.
Tsikhanouskaya has lived in Vilnius since August 2020 after fleeing Belarus. Lithuania has been a strong supporter of the Belarusian democratic movement, yet some politicians have questioned the ongoing costs associated with providing high-level security.
For more details, see the original English-language article here: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2771285/sources-tsikhanouskaya-preparing-to-move-office-from-vilnius-to-warsaw
Related reading: Lithuania considers freezing Belarusian assets: https://bnn-news.com/lithuania-considers-freezing-belarusian-assets-275136
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