A Lithuanian Businessman Has Been Detained In Belarus

He managed one of the largest wood-processing companies.

Lithuanian businessman Vitautas Slankauskas, who headed one of Belarus’s largest wood-processing enterprises, was detained and taken into custody in June. This was reported by LRT.

Vitautas Slankauskas worked as the head of internal audit at the Austrian-owned company “HS Belacon” in Belarus, and prior to that, he had managed the enterprise for three years.

The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to journalists that the Lithuanian Embassy in Belarus had been informed of the detention. The ministry is not providing any additional information out of respect for citizens’ privacy.

Austrian investors from “Timber Group” hired the Lithuanian national because of his experience managing the construction of large factories in both Lithuania and Belarus. Slankauskas worked at “Vakarų medienos grupė” (Western Timber Group) as well as at the “Mebelain” plant in Belarus, which was built by Lithuanians.

The Lithuanian citizen was accused of supplying defective parts to Russia and Belarus. It is known that Lukashenko controls the woodworking industry in Belarus, and many enterprises have already been nationalized (taken over by the state).

Political scientist Vitas Jurkonis says this is not the first time a Lithuanian entrepreneur working in Belarus has been detained. Therefore, he says, everyone must assess the risks.

“It’s not the first time, and I’m afraid it won’t be the last. It doesn’t matter which country’s capital the company has or what kind of business it is. No one here can protect themselves because Belarus is not a state governed by the rule of law. Let’s recall the hijacked Ryanair plane and the long-haul truck drivers,” said Jurkonis.

The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again strongly urges its citizens not to travel to Belarus, and those who are currently there to leave immediately.

You can support the website Charter97.org

MULTI-CURRENCY ACCOUNT FOR ASSISTANCE:

Bank's name: Bank Millennium S.A.
Address: ul. Stanislawa Zaryna, 2A, 02-593, Warszawa
IBAN: PL97116022020000000216711123
SWIFT: BIGBPLPW
Name of the account holder: Fundacja “KARTA ‘97”
Purpose/title of payment: Donation for statuary aims

You can contact us by the e-mail charter97@gmail.com