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Mickevičius: Legal assistance to Minsk may contradict Lithuanian laws

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Mickevičius: Legal assistance to Minsk may contradict Lithuanian laws

Head of the Lithuanian Institute of Human Rights Watch calls to evaluate Belarusian request for assistance in the investigation of the "Teddy troopers".

Lithuania, in accordance with their own values, have to assess the request of Belarus to launch an investigation of the violation of the state border, as human rights defenders cannot operate legally under the regime of Aliaxandar Lukashenka, suggests Henrikas Mickevičius.

The human rights activist pointed out that bilateral Lithuanian-Belarusian agreement provides that legal aid will not be available if it is contrary to the basic principles of the legislation of the state, reports ru.delfi.lt, referring to BNS.

"This situation must be evaluated from our point of view, not from Belarusian. If, in our opinion, information or other assistance is contrary to principles and values, enshrined in our Constitution - and one of the key values is the protection of human rights - it is impossible to provide information and other assistance", - said Mickevičius.

According to the human rights activist, in non-democratic countries, which ignore human rights, actions that violate the formal boundaries of law can be justified.

"In a democratic state one must act within the legal and political system, and only in exceptional cases the actions of civil disobedience are possible", - said Mickevičius.

"The situation is different, when it comes to not legal, not democratic countries that violate human rights. In this case, the boundaries of actions of the human rights organizations can be extended, because it is impossible to do something in a legal way. Regime denies the right of the civilian sector to act, express opinions, criticize someone. Therefore, actions that cross the boundaries of the law are justifiable, because the pursued goal  justifies the means. In this case, referring to the borders, it is necessary to speak not of law but of morality", - said Mickevičius.

Swedish activists reported that in July they illegally invaded the airspace of Belarus and dropped hundreds of teddy bears with parachutes, to which were attached placards with calls for freedom of speech and human rights.

At first the Belarusian side denied it, then Aliaxandar Lukashenka fired the Air Force Commander, threatened Lithuania, and also expelled the Swedish ambassador. Belarus officially applied to the Lithuanian Prosecutor General's Office with a request for legal assistance in the case.

According to the General Prosecutor's Office of Lithuania, the investigation launched on the basis of the illegal border crossings and violations rules of international flights.

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