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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: LITHUANIA RUSSIA EXILES
HEADLINE: Russian and Belarusian Exiles Prepare for Another Year in Lithuania
TEASER: Hundreds of thousands of Russians opposed to Russia's war in Ukraine have left their country, many joining the Belarusian diaspora in Lithuania. For all of them, going home does not seem like a short-term option.
PUBLISHED AT: 04/12/2023 at 11:20am
BYLINE: Ricardo Marquina
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Vilnius, Lithuania
VIDEOGRAPHER: Ricardo Marquina
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, pcd
VIDEO SOURCE: VOA Original
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _x_
TRT: 3:15
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[Hundreds of thousands of Russians opposed to Putin’s war in Ukraine have left to find refuge in Baltic countries, where they have joined Belarusians who have fled Lukashenko's repression. Ricardo Marquina has more from the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, in this report narrated by Marcus Harton.
((Mandatory: Noize MC))
((NARRATOR))
Noize MC is one of the most popular contemporary Russian musicians who has taken a stand against his country's aggression against Ukraine. His music, always critical of the Kremlin, has led him to escape repression.
And his refuge has been Lithuania,
((end courtesy))
where he fled with his family. For them, going home does not seem like an option in the near future, not without a radical change in the system.
((Noize MC, Artist. MAN, IN ENGLISH, ORIGINAL VOA))
“The end of Putinism. May not be Putin himself because Putinism might continue even after his death. All those people who are around him at the moment, none of them are good to me.”
((NARRATOR))
Those who have fled Putin's Russia have joined the Belarusian diaspora in Lithuania – people who escaped the repression of leader Alexandr Lukashenko after the 2020 protests in that country.
The Belarusian opposition says Lukashenko’s forces have put more than 1,400 political prisoners behind bars.
Its leader, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya - also exiled in Vilnius - tells VOA she fears that Lukashenko will join the war against Ukraine, which she says goes against the wishes of the Belarusian people.
((Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, Opposition Leader WOMAN, IN RUSSIAN, ORIGINAL VOA))
“Our main objective is to prevent the deployment of the Belarusian troops in Ukraine. And you know, our soldiers do not feel like being at war against Ukrainians. We do not regard Ukrainians as our enemies.”
((NARRATOR))
The Old Theater of Vilnius changed its name after the start of the war. It used to be called the Vilnius Russian Theatre. Russian and Belarusian actors have found refuge there, a new professional home that gives them the opportunity to work in their language. But that's also a problem, as the theater has been heavily criticized for its use of the Russian language in its plays.
It is something that these exiles say they understand perfectly.
[[RADIO VERSION: So says Andrius Darela, director of the play “Trecia Pamaina.”]]
((Andrius Darela, Play Director - MAN, IN RUSSIAN, ORIGINAL VOA))
“Culture means not hitting cities with missiles, nor destroying, or bombing the theaters with 500-kilogram bombs. If that currently causes such a reaction among the people, I absolutely understand them.”
((NARRATOR))
After the start of the war, Lithuanian authorities banned entry to Russians holding tourist visas for the European Union. Even so, they ensured their doors remained open to all political refugees, Russians and Belarusians.
[[RADIO VERSION: Ingrida Šimonytė, Lithuania´s Prime Minister, spoke to VOA.]]
((Ingrida Šimonytė, Lithuanian Prime Minister - WOMAN, IN ENGLISH - ORIGINAL VOA))
“This is the country that welcomes people who are in a complicated situation for their moral and political (views). It was like that. It is like that. It will be like that.”
((NARRATOR))
Vilnius has become a refuge for thousands of people fleeing from Putin and Lukashenko. The big question for all is, for how long.
((For Ricardo Marquina in Vilnius, Marcus Harton, VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateApril 12, 2023 13:12 EDT
BylineRicardo Marquina
Brand / Language ServiceUS Agency for Global Media, Voice of America - English
