Intelligence services from Russia and Belarus allegedly planned attacks against Belarusian citizens residing in Lithuania, according to the Lithuanian Security Service (VSD).
The Belarusian community in Lithuania has been under threat since 2023, as Russian and Belarusian intelligence services have been recruiting individuals for sabotage and violent attacks. The Lithuanian State Security Department (VSD) has emphasised that the Kremlin selects operatives based on the prospect of easy money rather than political or ethnic reasons.
The methods used by these intelligence services are extensive and insidious. They include extensive surveillance, psychological pressure, and threats, especially against Belarusian exiles, opposition figures, and community members. The Belarusian security forces, such as the KGB, have used excessive force and intimidation, including illegal detention, torture, and politically motivated prosecutions, often pushing targets into exile where they remain under threat.
There is also evidence of coordinated transnational repression, using tools such as misuse of Interpol notices, politically motivated trials, and harassment of relatives inside Belarus to exert pressure on community members abroad. Lithuania’s security services warn their citizens, especially those of Belarusian origin, of the risks of traveling to Belarus due to the threat of arrest and harsh penalties linked to accusations of extremist activities.
The recruitment process often begins with financially vulnerable individuals, such as the unemployed, students, and low-income workers, who are the most likely to accept these offers. Initial tasks offered to recruits often involve photographing buildings linked to the Belarusian diaspora or opposition events. Evidence of completed tasks, often in the form of videos or photos, is required for payment.
Potential attackers were also encouraged to locate and assault any Belarusian individuals of their choosing and to record the criminal acts on video. Payments for completed tasks range from dozens to thousands of euros, usually made via cryptocurrency or other anonymous methods. Some individuals are also sought from far-right extremist groups on social media.
Organisers often present themselves as members of the Belarusian diaspora or claim ties to the Belarusian opposition. The attacks were intended to simulate the activity of two opposing forces: Belarusians promoting the ideology of 'Litvinism' and alleged Lithuanian groups fighting against them.
In 2025, operatives allegedly began searching social media for individuals willing to attack Belarusians in Lithuania in exchange for payment. Threatening messages and vandalism, such as slogans promoting Litvinist ideology, have been reported since spring 2024. Videos purportedly recorded by Litvinist groups targeting Lithuania have circulated on social media.
However, the attempted assault was thwarted by the Lithuanian State Security Department. The abandonment of captured agents by Russian intelligence underscores the high risk for recruited individuals, who face severe state charges without support. It is crucial for the safety of the Belarusian community in Lithuania that these threats are taken seriously and that individuals are aware of the risks involved in such recruitment attempts.
- War-and-conflicts related discussions on general-news outlets have increasingly focused on the escalating threats against the Belarusian community in Lithuania, with reports of recruitment by Russian and Belarusian intelligence services for sabotage and violent attacks.
- Crime-and-justice investigations have revealed that the Kremlin exploits political, economic, and ethnic vulnerabilities in recruiting operatives, with individuals often being lured by the prospect of easy money rather than any genuine political affiliation.
.){kind=link}