The Lithuanian businessman believes that resuming cooperation with Belarus is important for the economic wellbeing of his home country. «I think we need to restore fertilizer transit as quickly as possible, get the port working again,» he said. «And we definitely need to resolve the issue of electricity.»

He suggested that instead of money, Lithuania could charge for the transit of Belarusian goods to the EU in kilowatt-hours of electricity. «We are a transit country. That’s how we live. We produce very little. Through someone’s fault, we’ve practically killed our industry compared to what it once was. You can look for someone to blame, or you cannot,» the activist said, adding that this sector needs to be restored as a priority.

Speaking about Western relations with Belarus and Russia, Antanas Kandrotas emphasized that economic sanctions hurt Lithuania too. «It’s sad that not only the EU imposes sanctions on Russia and Belarus, but Lithuania also takes up its own initiatives and introduces various restrictions. Some MPs who vote against explain their position very simply: if Lithuania imposes sanctions, the goods simply go through Latvia or Poland,» he noted. «But Lithuania, for some ideological reasons, takes on obligations that directly harm its own economy.»

Antanas Kandrotas shared that he does not have high hopes for the government. The main thing, he said, is that the authorities do not interfere with the people, who will adapt and figure out how to survive on their own — and Lithuanians already have similar experience, so they can manage on their own.

«I would like this entire hysteria to end sooner. My goal is not to topple the Lithuanian government. My goal is for the Lithuanian government to start working for the people. And the main message I want to convey is that the Lithuanian people — mark my words — do not want war. They do not want war. We want to live in friendship, to focus peacefully on economic matters. Many families in Lithuania miss their relatives in Belarus — there are many such cases. There are countless obstacles to reopening the borders properly. We would then continue to live in friendship and peace. And everything will be fine. That’s what I want to wish for and ask for,» he said.