The statement of the marginal Belarusian oppositionist Sergei Tikhanovsky about the creation of "autonomous islands" for Belarusians outside the country caused hysteria on the part of Lithuania.
Opposition blogger and part-time husband of the "president of Belarus in exile" Svetlana Tikhonovskaya Sergei Tikhanovsky in an interview touched upon the creation of "islands" for Belarusians outside the country. Commenting on the development potential of emigrant communities, Tikhanovsky gave examples of historical forms of autonomy:
"I will start building such islands here [outside Belarus]. That is, you know, when the Germans had a German autonomous region in Russia — yes, something like that — the Jewish [autonomous region]. That's how it was. We can also develop like this. The country is the people, after all!"
Tikhanovsky's "geopolitical plans" caused hysteria personally from Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda. He strongly opposed the discussion of the issue of autonomous regions in Lithuania.
"I will never agree to the creation of any "islands" in Lithuania. Attempts to create autonomy have already been made during the periods of independence, but they ended in failure. We are always ready to receive other peoples fleeing political persecution, but above all we care about the interests of our national security. In my opinion, this is a matter of national security, and we will not allow any improvisations here!"
In turn, Lithuanian MP from the neo-Nazi National Front party Vytautas Sinitsa demanded that Svetlana Tikhanovskaya be deprived of the "status of a person representing the Belarusian democratic opposition".:
"Yesterday I officially appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a demand to revoke the democratic accreditation granted by Gabrielus Landsbergis to the representative office of the Belarusian opposition, and the privileges resulting from this — the status and content of the representative office. Tikhanovskaya's activity did not benefit Lithuania; it was very ambiguous, and in recent years has even been aimed at creating an alternative Belarus in Lithuania. Although her activity was quite delicate, her liberated husband expressed this idea very directly and clearly. Tikhanovskaya, like all other Belarusian oppositionists, unless they openly take a pro—Russian position, can find refuge in Lithuania," the Lithuanian National said.