DISINFO: Lithuania gives Tsikhanouskaya special treatment
SUMMARY
Lithuania should be ashamed that people, who want to get residence permits in Lithuania must prove that they can speak Lithuanian, but Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya lives off the Lithuanian state and cannot say a word in the Lithuanian language.
Also funny that the Lithuanian media call Tsikhanouskaya “leader of the opposition” while the foreign minister of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis calls her “head” of Belarus.
RESPONSE
The case presents disinformation narratives about Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and her status in Lithuania.
The claim alleging that in order to receive Lithuanian residence permit one has to speak local language is false. This requirement does not exist. Here are the requirements for the temporary residence permit in Lithuania and here are for the permanent residence permit.
Lithuania does not call Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya the head of Belarus. In July 2021 Lithuania designated Tsikhanouskaya's team as a “democratic representation of Belarus”. It is a symbolic status, in practice, Tsikhanouskaya and her team are not considered a diplomatic representation with its usual rights and privileges.
See other examples of disinformation about Sviatlana Tsikhanuskaya: Lithuania interferes in Belarusian affairs by granting diplomatic status to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Lithuania provided Tsikhanouskaya with a villa, a manor house and a team of stylists paid by taxpayers.