Belarusians in Lithuania: Difference between revisions

 

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=== World War I and Interwar Period ===

=== World War I and Interwar Period ===

During World War I, after the occupation of Lithuania by German troops in 1915, the Belarusian Club was organized in Vilna, and the [[Belarusian Hramada]] in [[Kaunas|Kovno]] (Kaunas). With the proclamation of Lithuania’s independence (February 1918), the activities of Belarusian organizations in the German-occupied territories of Belarus and Lithuania were coordinated by the [[Vilna Belarusian Rada]] (VBR). After the denunciation of the [[Treaty of Brest-Litovsk]] in 1918, representatives of the VBR joined the [[Council of Lithuania]], and the [[Ministry of Belarusian Affairs in Lithuania]] was created.<ref name=”BelEn” />

During World War I, after the occupation of Lithuania by German troops in 1915, the Belarusian Club was organized in Vilna, and the [[Belarusian Hramada]] in [[Kaunas|Kovno]] (Kaunas). With the proclamation of Lithuania’s independence (February 1918), the activities of Belarusian organizations in the German-occupied territories of Belarus and Lithuania were coordinated by the [[Vilna Belarusian Rada]] (VBR). After the denunciation of the [[Treaty of Brest-Litovsk]] in 1918, representatives of the VBR joined the [[Council of Lithuania]], and the [[Ministry of Belarusian Affairs in Lithuania]] was created.<ref name=”BelEn” />

In December 1918, the government of the [[Belarusian People’s Republic]] (BPR) was located in Vilna, and from late 1920 to October 1923, in Kaunas. The Belarusian Diplomatic Mission was also located there in 1919–1923. In June 1919, the 1st and 2nd Separate Belarusian Companies were formed in Kaunas, which participated together with Lithuanian units in battles against Soviet and Polish troops. In November 1919, both companies were united into the Belarusian Battalion. In April 1920, it was transformed into the Belarusian Separate Company, and in December 1920, back into the Belarusian Separate Battalion, which until 1923 waged an anti-Polish partisan war in Western Belarus.<ref name=”BelEn” />

In December 1918, the government of the [[Belarusian People’s Republic]] (BPR) was located in Vilna, and from late 1920 to October 1923, in Kaunas. The Belarusian Diplomatic Mission was also located there in 1919–1923. In June 1919, the 1st and 2nd Separate Belarusian Companies were formed in Kaunas, which participated together with Lithuanian units in battles against Soviet and Polish troops. In November 1919, both companies were united into the Belarusian Battalion. In April 1920, it was transformed into the Belarusian Separate Company, and in December 1920, back into the Belarusian Separate Battalion, which until 1923 waged an anti-Polish partisan war in Western Belarus.<ref name=”BelEn” />

In October 1920, troops of the Polish general [[Lucjan Żeligowski]] seized Vilna and the [[Vilna Region]] (see [[Republic of Central Lithuania]]), and in early 1922, the Sejm approved their incorporation into [[Second Polish Republic|Poland]] as the [[Wilno Voivodeship (1926–1939)|Wilno Voivodeship]]. From that time until the end of 1939, Vilna was the social, educational, and cultural center of [[Western Belorussia|Western Belarus]]. In 1923–24, the “Belarusian Riflemen’s Union” cooperated with the Lithuanian side in the struggle against Poland. In the early 1920s, a foreign group of the [[Belarusian Party of Socialist Revolutionaries]], the Belarusian Assembly, the Belarusian Brotherhood, and others operated in Kaunas; a significant number of Belarusian-language periodicals were published in Lithuania.<ref name=”BelEn” />

In October 1920, troops of the Polish general [[Lucjan Żeligowski]] seized Vilna and the [[Vilna Region]] (see [[Republic of Central Lithuania]]), and in early 1922, the Sejm approved their incorporation into [[Second Polish Republic|Poland]] as the [[Wilno Voivodeship (1926–1939)|Wilno Voivodeship]]. From that time until the end of 1939, Vilna was the social, educational, and cultural center of [[Western Belorussia|Western Belarus]]. In 1923–24, the “Belarusian Riflemen’s Union” cooperated with the Lithuanian side in the struggle against Poland. In the early 1920s, a foreign group of the [[Belarusian Party of Socialist Revolutionaries]], the Belarusian Assembly, the Belarusian Brotherhood, and others operated in Kaunas; a significant number of Belarusian-language periodicals were published in Lithuania.<ref name=”BelEn” />

After the abolition of the Ministry of Belarusian Affairs in Lithuania (1923), whose successor the Belarusian Center (Kaunas) tried to become, public activity of Belarusians in Lithuania decreased due to the unfavorable attitude of Lithuanian authorities towards Belarusian national problems; by the end of the 1920s, almost all Belarusian schools there were closed. In the 1930s, the national-cultural life of Belarusians in Lithuania became active again (see [[Belarusian Cultural and Educational Society in Kaunas]]), and the Kaunas Belarusian Center was restored.<ref name=”BelEn” />

After the abolition of the Ministry of Belarusian Affairs in Lithuania (1923), whose successor the Belarusian Center (Kaunas) tried to become, public activity of Belarusians in Lithuania decreased due to the unfavorable attitude of Lithuanian authorities towards Belarusian national problems; by the end of the 1920s, almost all Belarusian schools there were closed. In the 1930s, the national-cultural life of Belarusians in Lithuania became active again (see [[Belarusian Cultural and Educational Society in Kaunas]]), and the Kaunas Belarusian Center was restored.<ref name=”BelEn” />

Ethnic group in Lithuania

Ethnic group

Belarusians in Lithuania

Ethnic Belarusians: 28,183 (2021 census)[1] Citizens of Belarus: 53,739 (April 2025)[2]

Vilnius, Visaginas, Šalčininkai District

Russian, Belarusian (incl. simple speech), Lithuanian, Polish

Roman Catholicism (49.6%), Eastern Orthodoxy (32.3%)

Belarusians, Poles in Lithuania, Lithuanians

The Belarusian minority in Lithuania (Belarusian: Беларусы Літвы; Lithuanian: Lietuvos baltarusiai) constitutes one of the prominent ethnic minorities in Lithuania. The community is historically divided into two distinct groups: the autochthonous population inhabiting the southeastern borderlands (often referred to as tutejszy), and the modern diaspora formed by migration during the Soviet era and the recent wave of political and economic emigrants following the 2020 Belarusian protests.

According to the 2021 census, there were 28,183 ethnic Belarusians in Lithuania (1.0% of the population), making them the third-largest ethnic group after Lithuanians and Poles.^[1] However, the number of Belarusian citizens residing in the country surged after 2020, reaching over 62,000 in 2024 before declining to approximately 53,700 by April 2025.^[2]

Since the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania until World War I, the socio-economic, national, and cultural development of Belarusians and Lithuanians took place within a unified state space. The main Belarusian center here was historically Vilna (Vilnius), where common state and cultural institutions existed, including Vilna University and the Vilna Brotherhood printing house. After the annexation of Belarusian and Lithuanian lands by the Russian Empire at the end of the 18th century, Belarusians and Lithuanians participated together in the national liberation movement (the Kościuszko Uprising of 1794, the Philomaths and Philarets societies, the activities of Szymon Konarski and Franz Savitch, the November Uprising of 1830–31, and the January Uprising of 1863–64).^[3]

According to the Russian Empire Census of 1897, 70,300 Belarusians lived on the territory of present-day Lithuania; they constituted the majority of the population of the Vilna Governorate (56%). In the early 20th century, various Belarusian organizations operated in Vilna, such as the Vilna Art and Industrial Society, the Nasha Niva publishing house, the Belarusian Publishing Society (active 1919–1930), the Belarusian Music and Drama Circle, and the Belarusian Teachers’ Union. Newspapers like Nasha Dolya and Nasha Niva were published there.^[3]

During World War I, after the occupation of Lithuania by German troops in 1915, the Belarusian Club was organized in Vilna, and the Belarusian Hramada in Kovno (Kaunas). With the proclamation of Lithuania’s independence (February 1918), the activities of Belarusian organizations in the German-occupied territories of Belarus and Lithuania were coordinated by the Vilna Belarusian Rada (VBR). After the denunciation of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1918, representatives of the VBR joined the Council of Lithuania, and the Ministry of Belarusian Affairs in Lithuania was created.^[3]

In December 1918, the government of the Belarusian People’s Republic (BPR) was located in Vilna, and from late 1920 to October 1923, in Kaunas. The Belarusian Diplomatic Mission was also located there in 1919–1923. In June 1919, the 1st and 2nd Separate Belarusian Companies were formed in Kaunas, which participated together with Lithuanian units in battles against Soviet and Polish troops. In November 1919, both companies were united into the Belarusian Battalion. In April 1920, it was transformed into the Belarusian Separate Company, and in December 1920, back into the Belarusian Separate Battalion, which until 1923 waged an anti-Polish partisan war in Western Belarus.^[3]

In October 1920, troops of the Polish general Lucjan Żeligowski seized Vilna and the Vilna Region (see Republic of Central Lithuania), and in early 1922, the Sejm approved their incorporation into Poland as the Wilno Voivodeship. From that time until the end of 1939, Vilna was the social, educational, and cultural center of Western Belarus. In 1923–24, the “Belarusian Riflemen’s Union” cooperated with the Lithuanian side in the struggle against Poland. In the early 1920s, a foreign group of the Belarusian Party of Socialist Revolutionaries, the Belarusian Assembly, the Belarusian Brotherhood, and others operated in Kaunas; a significant number of Belarusian-language periodicals were published in Lithuania.^[3]

After the abolition of the Ministry of Belarusian Affairs in Lithuania (1923), whose successor the Belarusian Center (Kaunas) tried to become, public activity of Belarusians in Lithuania decreased due to the unfavorable attitude of Lithuanian authorities towards Belarusian national problems; by the end of the 1920s, almost all Belarusian schools there were closed. In the 1930s, the national-cultural life of Belarusians in Lithuania became active again (see Belarusian Cultural and Educational Society in Kaunas), and the Kaunas Belarusian Center was restored.^[3]

At the beginning of World War II, when Vilna and the Vilna Region were transferred to Lithuania (October 1939), the Vilna Belarusian Scientific Society and the Belarusian Student Union ceased their activities. During the occupation of Lithuania by Nazi German troops (1941–1944), the Vilna Belarusian Gymnasium, the Belarusian Teachers’ Seminary, and the Vilna Belarusian Museum (closed in 1945) were still active, and the newspaper Bielaruski holas (ed. Frantsishak Alyakhnovich) was published.^[3]

After the liberation of Lithuania, part of the Belarusians of the Vilna Region resettled in Poland based on the Lithuanian-Polish agreement on the mutual evacuation of the population of 22 September 1944. From 1945, Belarusians from the BSSR arrived in Lithuania for recruitment, construction projects, etc. Their number increased from 30,000 in 1959 to 63,000 in 1989; however, they had practically no organized national life. Piotra Sierhijevič, Zoska Veras, Liavhon Luckievič, Janka Šutovič, and others continued their activities in Vilnius.^[3]

The activation of public life of the Belarusian national minority in Lithuania began during the liberalization of socio-political life in the USSR (second half of the 1980s), when a number of Belarusian cultural and educational organizations emerged, including “Siabryna”. Since 1989, Belarusian programs have been broadcast on radio and television in Lithuania.^[3]

After the declaration of independence of Lithuania and Belarus and the collapse of the USSR in 1991–96, more than 7,600 Belarusians returned from Lithuania to the Republic of Belarus, and 3,800 of its residents moved to Lithuania from Belarus. According to Lithuanian statistical data, in the mid-1990s, more than 50,000 Belarusians lived in Lithuania (mainly in the Vilnius Region) (1.5% of the country’s population). In early 1998, 15 Belarusian organizations conducted cultural and educational work in Lithuania (in Vilnius, Druskininkai, Visaginas, Šalčininkai, Švenčionys, etc.), including the Society of Belarusian Culture and the Society of the Belarusian Language. Since 1993, the Francysk Skaryna Gymnasium has been operating in Vilnius. Exhibitions of works by Belarusian artists, festivals of Belarusian songs are held in Visaginas and other cities of Lithuania, and Belarusian-language periodicals are published.^[3]

The provision of conditions for the free development of the native language, preservation of traditions, performance of religious rites, and protection of the legal rights of Belarusian citizens in Lithuania is provided for by the Treaty on Good Neighborliness and Cooperation between Belarus and Lithuania (1995), the Belarusian-Lithuanian intergovernmental agreement on the protection of their citizens on the territory of both countries (1996), on the guarantee of their rights in the field of pension provision (1994), and others.^[3]

The identity of the autochthonous Slavic population in southeastern Lithuania is complex. Ethnologist Yury Vnukovich defines the situation in the Vilnius Region as an “ethnic anomaly.” While local Lithuanians are identified by their language, for the local Slavic speakers, their everyday language is not a primary marker of ethnicity.^[4]

The vernacular spoken by this group is known as prostaya mova (“simple speech”), an uncodified dialect with a Belarusian linguistic base and significant borrowings from Polish, Russian, and Lithuanian. Polish linguist Mirosław Jankowiak attested that many inhabitants who declare Polish nationality speak this Belarusian dialect.^[5]

However, speakers of prostaya mova often identify as Poles. Research indicates that religion serves as the primary boundary marker: the local population strictly categorizes Catholics as Poles and Orthodox believers as Belarusians (or Russians).^[4]

According to the 2011 census, the linguistic situation among ethnic Belarusians in Lithuania was as follows:

The number of ethnic Belarusians has been steadily declining since the collapse of the USSR due to assimilation and emigration, while the number of Belarusian citizens (migrants) has fluctuated.

Ethnic Belarusians in Lithuania (Census data):^[6][1]

Year	Population	% of total
1959	30,256	1.11%
1989	63,169	1.71%
2001	42,866	1.23%
2011	36,227	1.19%
2021	28,183	1.01%

Following the 2020 Belarusian protests, Lithuania became a primary destination for Belarusian political refugees and relocated businesses (especially in the IT sector). Companies like Wargaming and EPAM Systems relocated thousands of employees to Vilnius.

By the beginning of 2024, the number of Belarusian citizens with valid residence permits in Lithuania peaked at 62,844. However, due to tightening regulations and the closure of border crossings, this trend reversed. As of 1 April 2025, the number of Belarusian citizens with residence permits dropped to 53,739 (a decrease of nearly 15% year-on-year).^[2]

The decline is attributed to stricter migration policies. In 2024–2025, Lithuanian politicians proposed revoking residence permits for Belarusians who travel to Belarus more than once every three months. This specifically impacted the transport sector, as approximately 36,000 Belarusians work as truck drivers for Lithuanian logistics companies. Many drivers face a choice between losing their permits or relocating to other EU countries like Poland.^[2]

There are several organizations aimed at preserving Belarusian culture, united under the Association of Belarusian Public Organizations in Lithuania.

• Frantsishak Alyakhnovich (1883–1944), writer and playwright
• Klawdziy Duzh-Dushewski (1891–1959), architect, creator of the White-red-white flag
• Vacłaŭ Łastoŭski (1883–1938), historian and politician, Prime Minister of the Belarusian People’s Republic
• Ivan Łuckievič (1881–1919), leading figure of the Belarusian independence movement, founder of the Vilna Belarusian Museum
• Anton Łuckievič (1884–1942), politician and publicist, Prime Minister of the BPR
• Natallia Arsiennieva (1903–1997), poet
• Piotra Sierhijevič (1900–1984), painter
• Branislaw Tarashkyevich (1892–1938), linguist
• Zoska Veras (1892–1991), writer and cultural activist

• Пашкоў, Г. П., ed. (1999). “Літва”. Беларуская энцыклапедыя: У 18 т. Т. 9: Кулібін — Малаіта [Belarusian Encyclopedia: In 18 Vol. Vol. 9: Kulibin — Malaita] (in Belarusian). Мінск: БелЭн. ISBN 985-11-0155-9.
• Внуковіч, Ю. (2023). Маркеры этнічнай ідэнтычнасці жыхароў Віленшчыны (па матэрыялах палявых этнаграфічных экспедыцый пачатку ХХІ ст.) [Markers of the Ethnic Identity of the Inhabitants of Vilnius Region (on the Material of Ethnographic Field Expeditions of the Beginning of the 21st Century)]. Studia Białorutenistyczne (in Belarusian). 17: 65–87. doi:10.17951/sb.2023.17.65-87.
• Беларускае замежжа = Белорусское зарубежье [Belarusian Diaspora] (in Belarusian). Мінск: Беларуская Энцыклапедыя. 2010. p. 479. ISBN 978-985-11-0534-8.