Комментарий Посла Республики Беларусь в Республике Корея А. Чернецкого в связи с публикацией в южнокорейской прессе
01.06.2026 г.В одном из периодических англоязычных изданий Республики Корея (The Korea Herald) 27 мая 2026 года вышла статья под заголовком «Литовско-корейское оборонное партнерство обоюдовыгодно» («Lithuania-Korea defense partnership a ‘win-win’», https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10756119). В материале, представляющем собой интервью литовского советника по национальной безопасности Д. Матулениса, последний касается вопроса о контрабанде сигарет из Республики Беларусь в Литву, характеризуя это как «гибридную угрозу» и проводя аналогии с имевшими место инцидентами на границе между Корейской Народно-Демократической Республикой и Республикой Корея. Кроме этого, господин Матуленис высказался в отношении «более глубокого сотрудничества между Индо-Тихоокеанским регионом и НАТО», мотивируя это тем, «что поражение России является базовым для глобальной стабильности» — («meanwhile, the adviser also called for deeper cooperation between NATO and the Indo-Pacific region, arguing that Russia’s defeat is essential to global stability»).
С учетом того, что материал содержал заведомо ложные сведения, а также явную подтасовку фактов со стороны литовского чиновника, корреспонденту был подготовлен и направлен комментарий вместе с доказательствами намеренного умалчивания Д. Матуленисом причастности должностных лиц Литвы к озвучиваемым им инцидентам на белорусско-литовской границе. К сожалению, издание The Korea Herald не опубликовало комментарий Посла Республики Беларусь по поводу высказываний литовского чиновника в отношении Беларуси и России.
Принимая во внимание право доступа южнокорейского общества к всесторонней объективной информации, считаю своим долгом опубликовать направленные в корейское издание материалы исходя из возможностей дипмиссии. Полагаю, что читатели из Республики Корея, которые сочтут возможным с ними ознакомиться, смогут самостоятельно решить, что является «essential» для глобальной и региональной стабильности.
Having read the article titled «Lithuania-Korea defense partnership a ‘win-win’» thoroughly, I wish South Korea success in supplying arms to the European market. It is easy to guess what these supplies will lead to. The consequences of these supplies are also not difficult to predict. Regarding the so-called cigarette-laden balloons flying to Lithuania: firstly, they are not metal (in the article, they are called “metal balloons”), but rubber, filled with gas, like any balloons—there are no metal balloons. Therefore, the Lithuanian National Security Advisor either lied here or is simply incompetent. Also, when the Advisor compares the situation on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border with the situation on the Korean border, he forgets to mention that it is not garbage and leaflets that are flying to Lithuania from Belarus, but goods. Why do they fly there? Because these goods are cheaper in Belarus than in Lithuania. Who accepts them in Lithuania? — Lithuanian citizens who make a good living from this, reselling them in Lithuania, and possibly in other EU countries as well. The Belarusian citizens in Lithuania belong to the so-called Belarusian opposition, which the Lithuanian authorities themselves invited into their country before. Therefore, it is strange to blame the Belarusian authorities for this process. Especially since Lithuania arrested a whole group of Lithuanian citizens in May of this year on charges of smuggling, including employees of Lithuanian government agencies. I'm attaching a link to the article – https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2936104/lithuania-detains-27-in-smuggling-probe-including-police-officers-border-guards?srsltid=AfmBOopWA8B6XIT2KzPOjrwmQc_GGN4dLrb-QhGPPm7au85KOZz3ctmb
Is Belarus also to blame for this?
I would also like to note that our Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly offered to hold consultations with the Lithuanian side on this issue. But Lithuania stubbornly refuses to accept our proposals. Isn't it because some people in Lithuania are successfully profiting from the business of smuggling cigarettes from Belarus, and the National Security Advisor is well aware of this? And regarding the analogy with the situation on the Korean border—if and when cigarettes start flying from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the Republic of Korea—I would be very concerned about the state of the South Korean economy. Therefore, when Lithuanian citizens and officials, living in what the Lithuanian government calls a “thriving” economy, are forced to smuggle cigarettes from Belarus, it naturally raises questions: is Lithuania's economy truly thriving? And how does economically “thriving” Lithuania intend to increase its military spending to 5.4 percent if its citizens are forced to smuggle cigarettes? How does Lithuania intend to pay for arms supplies from South Korea? Or is all the rhetoric of Mr. Lithuania's National Security Advisor nothing more than a provocation, another attempt to drag South Korea into the objectively existing confrontation on the European continent? This is confirmed by Mr. Advisor's words about the “necessity of defeating Russia.” Having lived in South Korea for quite some time, I've often witnessed bellicose statements from citizens of other countries about “Korea's role in containing China.” Now, I hear it being called “defeating Russia.” To what extent do such calls serve the interests of the South Korean people? I'm sure such verbal escapades come from people who neither love nor understand this amazing country, with its ancient history, impressive economic successes, and wonderful people who have no need for war.
I would be grateful if you would publish the above opinion.
Lithuania detains 27 in smuggling probe, including police officers, border guards.
