Lithuanian historian: New generation of Belarusians wants Vilnius back

He paid attention to the fact that “the Lithuanian society failed to notice dangerous tendencies in the neighbouring state [Belarus] in time”. It has turned out that Belarusians are trying to become the descendants of the grand Duchy of Lithuania and think that modern Lithuanians and Litvins (the people they consider to be their ancestors) are different. According to Rakutis, “starting from 2009 Belarusians began to say that Belarus is the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with a different name”.

 Belarusians are doing the real thing: they are puttin on historical programmes and restoring the cultural legacy, they even “bought a GDL Statute from a collector”, the Lithuanian historian said.

 "What consequences may it bring to us?” Valdas Rakutis reasons. “A new generation (maybe even the modern one) will think that Lithuania is some misunderstanding and that Vilnius should be given back to Belarus. Such idea may be used by the forces who wish ill to Lithuania.”

He recalled Vladimir Zhirinovski’s recent statement: “Vilnus should be given back to Lukashenka. This is Belarus.” Belarusians and Belarus are in the “zone of Russian influence”, the Lithuanian historian stressed. He implied that the territorial problem may be used by Moscow and Russia would not support Lithuania in this issue.

 "We will become enemies and adversaries will make use of it,” the professor concluded in his interview with the website Delfi.