An email to Lithuanian presidential officials claims Belarusian opposition is appropriating Lithuanian national identity through symbols like the Vytis/Pahonia knight.
Email to Lithuanian Officials
On January 28, an email was sent to Lithuanian presidential officials, politicians from the Seimas, and influential journalists. The sender, Vaidotas, used a Gmail address to claim that the Belarusian opposition is appropriating Lithuanian national identity through the use of the Vytis/Pahonia symbol.
Historical Symbol Dispute
The Vytis, known as Pahonia in Belarus, features a knight on horseback and has been recognized by both nations as their own symbol since the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. After regaining independence in 1991, both Belarus and Lithuania recognized the knight as their emblem, causing disputes in bilateral relations.
Current Symbol Usage
Since Alexander Lukashenko restored somewhat modified Soviet symbolism, the Pahonia symbol is primarily invoked by the pro-Western opposition, contrasting with the official Belarusian state symbols.