Lithuania: President criticised over treaties with Russia, Belarus

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, criticised President Gitanas Nauseda for delaying a decision to end investment protection treaties with Russia and Belarus, BNS reports. Landsbergis noted that the government had proposed revoking the treaties back in May 2024. He insisted that Nauseda would have had enough time to refer the issue to the parliament, the Seimas, during its spring session. Landsbergis noted that Russia had a strong interest to maintain the treaties. The parliament’s deputy speaker, Zygimantas Pavilionis, said that the president’s delay seemed suspicious and raised many questions, LRT reported. He pointed to a parliamentary inquiry that identified possible influence of Belarusian business on Nauseda. The president’s chief foreign policy adviser, Asta Skaisgiryte, denied any such pressure. She linked the controversy over the treaties to the upcoming parliamentary elections and said that the president would refer the issue to the parliament very soon. Lithuania has terminated almost all bilateral agreements with Russia and Belarus.