Research · 19 October 2026
On the Other Side of the Border: Belarus and Belarusians as Perceived by Lithuanian Society
The study examines how residents of Lithuania perceive Belarus and Belarusians against the backdrop of bilateral relations that have changed dramatically since 2020. It focuses on attitudes towards Belarusian citizens and migration, security concerns, perceptions of Belarus’s political system and its dependence on Russia, and expectations regarding Lithuania’s policy towards the authorities in Minsk and Belarusian democratic forces.
The findings reveal a complex picture. Lithuanians’ attitudes towards Belarusians remain ambivalent, yet Belarusian citizens living in Lithuania are far less likely to be perceived as a threat than the Belarusian state. Belarusians’ economic contribution is viewed predominantly positively, while further labour migration remains a dilemma for public opinion. At the same time, most respondents describe Belarus as an authoritarian state heavily dependent on Russia and do not recognise Aliaksandr Lukashenka as its legitimate leader.
A separate part of the study examines historical memory and cultural ties between the two societies: attitudes towards the heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Pahonia coat of arms, debates surrounding “Litvinism”, and familiarity with Belarusian historical and cultural figures.