Lithuanian PM hopes for honest elections in Belarus

Democratic elections in Belarus are the next step to improve relations between Vilnius and Minsk.

Lithuanian prime minister Algirdas Butkevičius said it in an interview with BelaPAN. He noted that political relations between the two countries were developing “normally”.

“We have a particular attitude toward Lukashenka, but we are neighbours and try to make them better,” Butkevičius said.

Lithuania's PM said he was pleased that EU representatives had made efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine at the Minsk talks in the Normandy format.

“The issue of the implementation of the Minsk agreements is very difficult, we have to wait until February 15, when the agreed ceasefire is to take effect,” he said.

Butkevičius noted he didn't know how Russia would behave. “Back in the Soviet times I saw how amicable relations between everyone were. Hopefully, the situation will be settled in the near future,” he said.

None elections in Belarus have been recognised by the international community since 1996. Lidziya Yarmoshyna, the head of the Central Elections Committee, was banned from entering the EU and the US in 2004 for falsifying elections. Travel restrictions were also imposed on almost 200 Belarusian officials after the 2010 elections.