Belarus–Lithuania relations

Belarusian-Lithuanian relations are foreign relations between Belarus and Lithuania. Both countries were part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (later merged with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth), the Russian Empire and ultimately, the Soviet Union. The countries established diplomatic relations on October 24, 1991, shortly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The two countries share 680 km of common border.

Belarusian-Lithuanian relations

Belarus
Lithuania

Each country hosts opposition figures for the other, with Belarus sheltering coup-leader Vladimir Uschopchik and Lithuania harboring Belarusian opposition figures. Lithuania has attempted to encourage a European orientation in Belarusian leadership, and has pursued trade deals and cooperation among law enforcement agencies. Sharing of information led to the arrest of Belarusian human-rights activist Ales Bialatski, resulting in European condemnation of both countries.[1]

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko made two official visits to Lithuania in 1995 and September 2009.

Country comparison
Belarus Lithuania
Coat of Arms
Flag
Population 9,498,700[2] 2,810,865[3]
Area 207,595 km2 (80,155 sq mi) 65,300 km2 (25,212 sq mi)
Population density 45.8/km² (120.8/sq mi) 43/km² (111/sq mi)
Capital Minsk Vilnius
Largest city Minsk – 1,921,807 (2,101,018 metro) Vilnius – 545,280 (805,173 metro) [4]
Government Unitary presidential republic Unitary semi-presidential republic
Current leaders Alexander Lukashenko (president), Sergei Rumas (prime minister) Gitanas Nausėda (president), Saulius Skvernelis (prime minister)
Official languages Belarusian (official state language), Russian (co-official) Lithuanian
Main religions 55.4% Christianity (48.3% Eastern Orthodoxy, 7.1% Catholic), 31.1% non-religious, 3.5% other 81.38% Christianity (77.2% Catholic, 4.9% Orthodox), 10.1% undeclared, 6.1% non-religious, 1.67% other
Ethnic groups 83.7% Belarusians, 8.3% Russians, 3.1% Poles, 1.7% Ukrainians, 3.2% other 86.7% Lithuanians, 5.6% Poles, 4.8% Russians, 1.3% Belarusians, 0.7% Ukrainians, 0.9% other[5]
GDP (nominal) $53 billion ($5,745 per capita)[6] $51.372 billion ($18,312 per capita)
GDP (PPP) $176 billion ($19,198 per capita) $95.591 billion ($34,074 per capita) [7]

Resident diplomatic missions
Embassy of Belarus in Vilnius
  • Belarus has an embassy in Vilnius.
  • Lithuania has an embassy in Minsk and a consulate-general in Grodno.

See also

References
  1. Eastern approaches (8 August 2011). "The snitches of Vilnius". The Economist. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  2. "Demographic situation in 2015". Belarus Statistical Office. 27 January 2016. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  3. "Statistikos departamentas".
  4. osp.stat.gov.lt
  5. "Lietuvos gyventojų tautinė sudėtis 2014–2015 m". Alkas.lt. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  6. "Belarus". International Monetary Fund. 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  7. "Lithuania". International Monetary Fund. 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.


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