‘Russia cannot be treated as a reasonable and reliable trade partner

– What are the most important fields of cooperation between Lithuania and Georgia?

No doubts, the political dialogue, support for Euro-Atlantic integration, cooperation between governmental agencies and institutions, people-to-people dialogue remain essential fields of cooperation between Lithuania and Georgia. An ambitious bilateral agenda is foreseen for this year: , we are waiting for the visit of H.E. President of Georgia to Lithuania, meeting of the Lithuanian – Georgian Intergovernmental Commission of Economic Cooperation in Vilnius, co-chaired by the Vice Prime Minister of Georgia and the Minister of Economy and Innovations of Lithuania, active inter-parliamentary cooperation and cultural dialogue.
We hope that this will give an additional impetus for the long-term cordial friendship and cooperation between our countries both at an official and people’s level.

It is important to state that the beginning of our political dialogue dates back to the XV century. The Lithuanian Metrics dated 10 March 1465, mentions the envoys of King Bagrat VI of Imereti who visited Grand Duke Kazimieras Jogailaitis of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, while traveling through Lithuania at that time.

Immediately upon the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Georgia on 26 May 1918, the “Lithuanian Committee” in the Caucasus decided to address the Council of Lithuania and ask to open an official mission of Lithuania in Transcaucasia. Accordingly, on 30 August 1918, Mr. Dailidė was officially accredited as a representative of the State of Lithuania to the Government of Georgia. Thus, the intensity of bilateral political dialogue is deeply rooted in the rich history of the Georgian – Lithuanian relationship.

In 2024 both countries will commemorate the 30 years since the reestablishment of diplomatic relations.

– How do you see Georgia’s security in light of Russian aggression in Ukraine?

Lithuania is a long-standing and robust supporter of Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Our states share very dark history of relations with their neighboring Russia that is still fully controlled by the authoritarian Putin’s regime, which has never respected the principles of democracy, rule of law, fundamental human rights, adherence to international law. Therefore, the security implications of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, whether for the Baltic or the Black Sea basins are very much interconnected.
Lithuania and all NATO Allies recognize Georgia’s role and contribution to the international peace and stability operations around the globe, e.g. in Afghanistan.

We acknowledge and pay due respect to Georgians who paid their lives in this regard, including in Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s war against Ukraine a year ago.

Lithuania strongly supports Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. We remain committed to strengthening Georgia’s resilience and security capabilities, as reconfirmed in the Joint Communique signed by the Ministers of Defence of Lithuania and Georgia on 24th October 2022 in Tbilisi.

Both countries condemned the unprecedented Russian aggression against Ukraine, and recommitted to continue bilateral cooperation in various areas, including training and education, joint military exercises, cyber defence and strategic communications, special operation forces and national guard capabilities development.

The 2023 NATO Summit will take place in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. Preparations across the capitals of Alliance have already been undertaken, also in order to respond to the legitimate expectations of the NATO partners, including Georgia. Lithuania stays committed in this regard to enhance NATO partnership and agenda with Georgia.

– What is your expectation towards the conflict in Ukraine in terms of widening Russia’s military operations in other neighbouring countries?

The response to Russia’s war against Ukraine has to be robust, firm and un-compromising. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has vocally addressed this in a meeting of the US-led Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Rammstein, Germany on 20 January 2023: “we must urgently step up support for Ukraine”. Georgia’s Minister of Defence has also participated in this important meeting. We are convinced that Russia has to be contained. Since the start of the full scale Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, Lithuania has been providing a robust military and humanitarian support to Ukraine, including with providing weapons, guns, ammunition, training of soldiers. Lithuania will continue to firmly stand by Ukraine, and encourages all countries, including Georgia, to join the EU and NATO ’ efforts to stop Russia.

– We recently witnessed massive immigration of Russian population to Georgia. Do you think this process can cause security problems in long term? 

This question has to be answered by Georgia’s leaders, politicians and the society.

Lithuania and its Baltic neighbours have chosen their own approach. Already in the first weeks of Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, on 10 March 2023, Lithuania decided to stop accepting Russian and Belorussian nationals’ applications for entry visas to Lithuania, and in September 2022 we decided to ban entry of Russian nationals to Lithuania – while in both cases exceptions apply based on humanitarian considerations. I worked for Lithuania’s diplomatic mission to Moscow for six years a couple of decades ago. I regretfully believe that the Russian people have made their choice by supporting the regime and the “rules of engagement” of Russia, and that the majority of Russians have been supporting the regime and its actions against Georgia in 2008, Ukraine in 2014 and today. This is the reason of the increasing international isolation of Russia, including of its citizens.

– Do you think that occupation of Tbilisi is the matter of time for Russian government? 

No, I don’t think so. We must be thankful to Ukraine’s heroic resistance, and Putin is losing in Ukraine now, and is unlikely to launch new military endeavors. Let me also kindly remind you of August 2008, when Russian troops were already in the vicinity of Tbilisi, but Georgia’s best friends, including that time President of Lithuania, Valdas Adamkus, stood with Georgia and its people. Georgia is an integral part of the international community, and I am confident that it will extend its hand of support if there is a need for it, just like it does for Ukraine now. Today, it is essential for Georgia to do its utmost to provide all possible support to Ukraine continuing its fight for freedom and sovereignty of their state.

– Recent surveys published by Lithuania’s state TV show that hostility towards local Russian-speakers has increased in Lithuania. How the government deals with this issue?

Russia’s military aggression and numerous war crimes in Ukraine make the democratic world to rethink its approach towards Russian language, culture, people. Lithuania and especially the capital city of Vilnius are famous for their harmonious co-existence of multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-national communities. The aim of the Government and state institutions is to maintain historically existing cultural diversity of Lithuania and to promote constructive and respectful dialogue.

In this regard, let me quote the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, Ms. Ingrida Šimonytė, who immediately after the Russia’s invasion to Ukraine made very clear – “we cannot put the blame of Russia’s actions against Ukraine on the shoulders of the Russian-speaking population of Lithuania. I invite each and every one living in Lithuania to be very responsible in this regard”. Thus, the response of the Government remains very clear – manifestations of xenophobia will not be tolerated.

– What is the volume of Russian business in Lithuania, therefore the level of dependence on Russia?

In 2014, since Russia’s invasion to the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine, the EU introduced a substantial sanctions package towards Russia, which contained a full ban on export of dairy products, in which Lithuanian food processing companies on the Russian market were very competitive and strong. Due respect goes to the Lithuanian businesses which notwithstanding the immediate financial losses stood up together with the Government and in accordance with the national interests.

Additionally, in Lithuania there is “zero” tolerance policy regarding the investments of non EU/NATO/OECD states to the strategic sectors of economy (transport, energy, telecommunications infrastructure). This is another proof of practical steps undertaken by the subsequent governments of Lithuania in order to minimize the volume of Russian “economic” interests in the country and to improve the resilience.

– How successful is Lithuania in terms of reducing dependence on Russian businesses and products?

First, the economic response through the trade with Russia was immediate after the 2014 aggression against Ukraine: if in 2013 20% of total Lithuanian export and 29% of Lithuanian import was with Russia, in 2017 these numbers already stood at 11.6% and 13% accordingly. So, there has been a huge shift in response to economic ties with Russia.

Second, the reorientation of the trade from Russia to new markets has continued during the current phase as well. The overall Lithuanian foreign trade during the 11 months of 2022 has increased, export by 30% (40 billion EUR), import by 41% (48 billion EUR), but trade with Russia during first 11 months of 2022 has decreased in terms of export by 26%, and import by 35%. Thus, statistics just prove that by witnessing overall increase of foreign trade, the trade relations with Russia are substantially decreasing. This is the response of Lithuanian business, as Russia cannot be treated as a reasonable and reliable trade partner.

– What is the share of Russian made products in Lithuania’s supermarkets? 

There is no exact data regarding the share of Russian-made products, though definitely they are virtually non-existent in Lithuanian supermarkets, although occasionally they do re-surface disguised under elaborate schemes, hiding the real country of origin. Furthermore, there are numerous initiatives developed by the NGO’s and business circles not only to exclude Russian and Belarussian products from the use, but also goods produced by the Western companies which maintained their business in Russia even after February 2022. Once again, this comes as a response to the policies of these neighbouring states.

– How the government of Lithuania managed to reduce Russian propaganda?   Can you compare the situation in Georgia? 

Lithuania was the first country in the European Union to adopt legislative measures to combat disinformation and information warfare. Those measures allow the responsible institutions to assess the content of the Russian state financed TV stations and issue decisions to ban the transmission of the TV channels if they disseminate false information including on historical narratives, and/or the content of the TV programs that disrespect the statehood of Lithuania. First ban on the transmission of Russia’s TV channel at that time “RTR Planeta” were introduced in 2015 and 2016.

On 25 February 2022, the Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania has issued the decision to ban the transmission of RTR Planeta“, „Rossija 24“, „NTV Mir“, „Belarus 24“, „Pervyj Baltijskij Kanal“ and „TVCi“ TV channels in Lithuania, as the content of their programs poses the threat to national security of Lithuania, spreads the disinformation, spurs war and hatred. Furthermore, the private telecommunication companies and network providers decided themselves to stop transmitting all Russian TV channels in Lithuania.

Talking about Georgia, the awareness of disinformation, informational resilience, countering propaganda has advanced during the recent period. The state institutions and civil society jointly recognize the need to further strengthen the capacities and raise public awareness in this regard. Can more be done? The Lithuanian case shows that yes, as Georgia and Lithuania, the people of both countries, had been the victims of so called Russification and Sovietization for generations. The Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania has also a role to play by implementing development assistance programs to counter propaganda and disinformation.

– Estonia recently suggested that it might seize the frozen funds and use them for Ukraine’s reconstruction, as the European Commission was not making any progress towards a common decision.  Do you think the same decision can be made in Georgia? 

This is an ongoing discussion and the Baltic States together with Poland and other allies are upfront vis-à-vis new measures to bring Russia accountable for continuous warfare and atrocities in Ukraine. Seizing of the funds is one of the ways to force Russia to pay the price for distortion of international order alongside with bringing the perpetrators to international justice. All similar initiatives are directed towards stopping Russia’s expansionist behavior and forcing it to adhere to the principles of the United Nations Charter, i.e. to respect territorial integrity and sovereignty, to maintain international peace and stability. Accordingly, Lithuania is working hard to enlarge the coalition of like-minded countries, and in our view, Georgia as very close European Union and Trans-Atlantic community partner has deserved the place among such group of states.

– There is significant international pressure on Georgia because of its weak response to Russian aggression in Ukraine. Do you think Georgia is in a position to be more strict? 

Ukraine today more than ever needs as much support as possible in order to push back Russia’s invasion. Even before the full-scale Russian invasion in Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the Lithuanian Government delivered concrete and practical assistance to Ukraine: Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, artillery, anti-drones, ammunition, and other types of military support. As of January 2023, Lithuania’s overall support to Ukraine amounts to 785 million EUR, of which more than 400 million EUR is military support.
No doubt, the international community will continue providing all possible support to Ukraine. Georgia has also contributed through humanitarian assistance and energy generators, through Georgian citizens’ sacrifices in Ukraine that is very noticeable. Georgia and Lithuania, we have to combine our efforts in supporting Ukraine. I believe small states such as ours should have an ambition to act and to make a substantial impact on the international arena.

Interviewed by Zviad Pochkhua