Updated at 17:53,27-03-2024

Lithuania's embassy in Minsk attacked

RFE/RL

Unidentified individuals have thrown Molotov cocktails at Lithuania's embassy in Minsk in a late-night attack.

Speaking on November 7, the day after the incident, Lithuanian Ambassador to Belarus Linas Linkevicius said on November 7 that "it was pure luck that we avoided damage as the consequences could have been much worse."

Lithuania and Belarus, whose capitals lie just 190 kilometers apart, have rocky diplomatic relations despite their trade ties.

The latest stand-off between Minsk and Vilnius began in July in the wake of a scandal over a teddy-bear airdrop in Minsk.

Belarusian authorities demanded explanations from Lithuania for allegedly allowing a Swedish plane to enter Belarusian air space from Lithuania on July 4 to drop teddy bears on Minsk accompanied by texts supporting Belarusian dissidents and the country’s opposition.