Stupidity or betrayal?

In the Lithuanian leadership there was a public split on the Russian issue. Prime Minister Saulus Sprinkalis this week spoke out for the resumption of the work of the Lithuanian-Russian intergovernmental commission, the last meeting of which took place in October 2011. The prime minister said that the lack of dialogue with Moscow on energy, transport and trade "is harmful to the interests of the state and citizens."

Felnnyis immediately received a rebuke from the president Dali Grybauskaite - she accused the head of government of irresponsibility. "Bilateral political contacts can take place with friendly countries. Meanwhile, Russia violates international law, conducts aggressive military, informational and cyber policy in relation to its neighbors. It would be naive to think that economic relations with this country are possible and separated from politics. Russia has always used energy, trade and other tools to exert pressure and influence on other countries. Our experience is still confirmed Grybausk. In the same spirit, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkyavichus spoke.

Felnnyis hastened to explain that he completely shares the president’s position on the sanctions, the situation in the Donbass, the annexation of Crimea and the "aggressive rhetoric" of Moscow. “But we are obliged to have political contact, even if not at the highest political level,” the prime minister insists.

We turned for comments on the member of the Seim of Lithuania, the conservator Zhigimantas Paviloenis - one of the initiators of the Lithuanian "Law of Magnitsky".

In January 1991, Paviveyenis defended the Vilnius television center among volunteers. One of the first to join the party "Union of the Fatherland - Christian democrats of Lithuania" founded by Vitautas Landsbergis. Former ambassador to the United States. He worked in the government for integration in the EU. He was the initiator of the support of Georgia during the war with Russia.

- We have such a phenomenon as the "Lithuanian consensus." On all the main issues, we worked together and came to an agreement: the right, left, and green ... And of course, now our position is similar to the position of the president, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and politicians of the European Union. It is impossible to resume dialogue with Russia on the previous grounds until Moscow fulfills certain conditions. First of all, it is a de -capacity of Crimea, other regions of Ukraine, the implementation of the Minsk agreements. While Russia does not comply with the principles of international law, we cannot resume a normal dialogue with it.

I believe that Mr. Sprinkalis simply retreated from the National Lithuanian consensus.

- What do you think is the reason for such a demarche?

• He probably thinks more about the presidential election, about raising his rating among a certain part of Lithuanian society. There are those who are dissatisfied with the reforms, the state of the social sphere ... But Mr. Sprinkalis in vain affects the issues of international politics. The Constitution clearly says: foreign policy is the prerogative of the president. After all, the premiere is not supported even by the Minister of Foreign Affairs - the minister of his own government. In other words, this is just a personal opinion of a person who, in my opinion, does not know the basics of international politics.

“But such an experienced politician could not but calculate the consequences.” He understood that he was going to confront with the president and with the Sejm?

• I think this is just the impotence of the prime minister in internal reforms, because in a year he did nothing normal. Thus, he wants to divert the attention of Lithuania citizens from his helplessness in the economic sphere. In fact, his policy is entirely populist, and populists are always looking for new scandals.

Mr. Sprinkalis invaded the area where he does not understand anything at all, and tries to raise a scandal there. And this is very stupid and frivolous. He refers to the fact that we are the neighbors of Russia, but for some reason he forgets that we are a European country, a neighbor of European countries, a member of NATO and should be responsible in their words and deeds. We cannot conduct any things with the third countries, forgetting about the interests of the European Union. This will never bring positive results.

- Recently , the "Magnitsky Law" on personal sanctions against Russian corrupt officials and criminals was adopted in Lithuania . And the last statements of the Prime Minister are contrary to the clear policy of Lithuania regarding Russia.

• Yes, and this law was again adopted by a voluntary consensus. And the green ones, who are now in the coalition with Felneys, voted "for" unanimously. And this is another proof of our unity on the most important issues. When I represented the "Magnitsky Law" in parliament, everyone agreed with me that this was the most pro -Russian of all our laws. Because, infringing on the rights of some criminal elements and “thieves in law” in Russia, he shows our faith in her future. We believe in the future of Russia as part of Europe, in Russia as a Christian state, to a state that wants to build a stable world with all civilized people - without wars, without murders and without theft.

- It turns out that Mr. Sprinkalis does not agree on his own steps even inside his coalition?

• Yes, I think this is a very stupid step. We plan to discuss this situation in the Foreign Affairs Committee next week. There will be representatives of all Lithuanian parties: green, and red, and conservatives, and Christian democrats, and liberals.

Very often we vote unanimously. I think that the irony of this situation is that we, including the allies of the Prime Minister for the political coalition, unanimously vote against such statements. And the prime minister will understand that he made a mistake and simply could not “keep silent” at the right time.

- Returning to the Lithuanian “Magnitsky List”: will he expand over time, and will all the names from the list be published?

• Yes, constant work is underway on this list, as stated in our new law. The list should often be updated based on new information. We will strive for this work to be always synchronized with the work of not only the countries of the Schengen group, but also all members of the EU and NATO. And Britain, and America, and Canada. We sometimes lack information, and we will receive it from partners.

Now we decided that in Lithuania two ministers - internal and foreign affairs - will be at the political level responsible for this list. The Foreign Minister will constantly update the recommended lists of unwanted persons for the migration service. Thus, the information in the migration department will always be relevant.

In turn, the Foreign Minister will give recommendations on the question of which surnames from the list will be made public and which are not.

- Now many Russians are forced to leave their country and ask for asylum. What is the current position of Lithuania in relation to political refugees?

- I believe that of all the neighbors of Russia we are the most open country for political officers. At one time, a lot of Lithuanians were forced to leave Lithuania. And we still remember this time. We understand how serious this question is for people who want to live in a free country. And every person living in Russia, who feels an increase in the threat of the authorities, because he simply wants to live humanly, in the conditions of compliance with all the rights that are recognized in civilized countries, should turn to us, and we will do everything to help it out.

This question is actually very important. I saw the Soviet tanks myself near the television tower in Vilnius, my friends died there, and I remember how in Russia, then in the Soviet Union, people went to big demonstrations. Russians, Russians fought for our freedom. You helped us out then. Now the time has come when we must demonstrate to you our solidarity not only in words, but also in practice.