Interior Ministry Of Lithuania Ceased Cooperation With Interior Ministry Of Belarus

The agreement signed in 1993 was terminated.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) of Lithuania announced on Friday the termination of the cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, delfi.lt reports.

According to the department, a bilateral agreement signed in 1993 provided for cooperation in the management of ministries.

According to Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite, there has been no practical implementation of the agreement since the “unfair presidential elections” in Belarus in 2020.

“Lithuania does not see opportunities for cooperation with hostile regimes. Belarus, being the closest ally of the Kremlin regime, continuing the hybrid attack against Lithuania and pushing illegal migrants into our country through the hands of its officials, cannot and will not be a partner of Lithuania either in internal affairs or in other areas,” Bilotayte said in a statement.

The Ministry also informed that since the beginning of the restoration of independence, Lithuania has signed various bilateral agreements with Belarus on cooperation in the relevant areas of management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the termination of which requires a government decision, as well as a number of interdepartmental agreements.

At the moment, Lithuania has also suspended the implementation of cross-border cooperation programs with Belarus and Russia funded by the European Commission.