The Lithuanian authorities decided to reduce the security level of Tikhanovskaya

The Lithuanian authorities have decided to reduce the security level of Belarusian oppositionist Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. This was announced on October 7 by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kastutis Budris.

"Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and her office were informed about this decision, and I also talked to her about it," Budris said in an interview with the LRT television and radio company.

He added that the question of what level of protection to apply and what measures to use is decided by the services based on a security assessment. According to him, the full range of threats and risks is being assessed: the activities of hostile intelligence services, criminal aspects, provocations, attacks, and the environment.

The publication notes that since Tikhanovskaya's arrival in Lithuania in 2020, she has been guarded around the clock not only in the country, but also abroad. According to LRT, such a service and related expenses cost Lithuania €1 million per year.

It is noted that this amount included round-the-clock physical security in Lithuania and abroad, escort vehicles, the maintenance of the place of residence, as well as the use of VIP terminals at airports.

In 2020, presidential elections were held in Belarus, which were won by Alexander Lukashenko. The opposition did not agree with the results of the vote and declared Tikhanovskaya the winner of the election. There have been protests in the country. Later, Tikhanovskaya left for Lithuania. In October 2020, she was put on the interstate wanted list by the Belarusian authorities. In March 2023, she was found guilty of conspiracy to seize state power, creating an extremist group, publicly calling for the seizure of power, and was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in a general regime penal colony.

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