Today, USAID officially inaugurated its new Belarus office in Vilnius, Lithuania as part of the Agency’s commitment to supporting the Belarusian people after USAID was forced by the Lukashenka regime to close its office in Minsk in 2021. The office, which USAID has elevated to a Belarus Country Representative Office, will serve as an enduring platform for our support to the Belarusian people as they work to build a more prosperous, free, and democratic future.
For the past 25 years, USAID has stood by the Belarusian people as they forge their free, independent, and democratic future. This new Country Representative Office will better enable USAID to work with and support the Belarusian people in promoting democratic principles and human rights, and supporting independent media, civil society, and entrepreneurship.
The people of Belarus made their wishes known and their voices heard when they took to the streets in a massive demonstration following the fraudulent 2020 elections. Four years later, Belarusians continue to show their commitment to a free and democratic future. USAID will continue to stand with the Belarusian people in promoting democratic principles, national identity, and human rights, and supporting independent media and civil society.