According to the Lithuanian national television website reported on the 8th local time, after the European Election Officials Association (ACEEO) failed to obtain enough votes to expel Russia and Belarus, the Lithuanian Central Election Commission (VRK) decided to withdraw from the international organization.
The chairman of the Lithuanian Central Election Commission, Joranta Petkevičen, claimed local time on Tuesday: "Joining an association that 'cannot decide to expel representatives of an aggressor state' is totally inconsistent with the fundamental principles of democracy and human rights." ”
Meeting of the Central Electoral Commission of Lithuania. Image source: Standing Media
The European Electoral Officials Association, formerly known as the Central and Eastern European Electoral Officials Association, was established in 1991 and renamed the European Electoral Officials Association in 2006. The organization is a regional non-governmental organization whose main purpose is "to promote the institutionalization and professionalization of democratic processes in the regions".
Last week, Lithuania's electoral supervisory body called on the European Electoral Officials Association to expel Russian and Belarusian electoral officials as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Ukraine, Latvia, Slovenia and Romania have made similar appeals to the Council of the Association.
According to the Lithuanian Central Electoral Commission, 9 of the association's 25 members voted in favour, 2 abstained and the rest simply did not vote. To expel Russia and Belarus, at least 17 countries need to be supported.
After the appeal was not heeded, Lithuania angrily withdrew. The Lithuanian Election Commission announced that membership in the association will be disqualified from Tuesday local time.
The Governor of Chang'an Avenue (WeChat ID: Capitalnews) noted that since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Lithuania has also actively promoted NATO to increase its military presence in the country.
Laurynas Kasčiūnas, chairman of the Lithuanian Parliament's National Security and Defense Committee, said Lithuania was prepared to take in at least 7,000 more NATO soldiers by the end of the year, Lithuanian state television reported. At present, there are about 3,000 NATO soldiers in Lithuania.
NATO forces in Lithuania Image source: Stand-up media
Last week, the Lithuanian government reportedly allocated 40 million euros to build new military camps for allies, with about 2,400 soldiers placed in three camps.
"This information shows that we have taken very strong action." Cassius said the new military camp for NATO forces "will be fully operational by 2023."
Andrikian, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Lithuanian Parliament, said the infrastructure preparations for nato troops are "advancing rapidly" and that "in 4 to 5 weeks, there will be very big progress." ”
NATO has sent additional troops to Lithuania over the past few weeks to deal with "Russia's 'invasion of Ukraine' and the deteriorating security situation in the region."
On the 9th local time, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova said at a press conference that Russia has never threatened NATO in the past, and now it has not threatened NATO, and Russia asks NATO to respect our legitimate security interests. Zakharova stressed that Moscow sees NATO's buildup in Eastern Europe as a provocation aimed at containing Russia.
Zakharova Infographic
"NATO's build-up on the east flank – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria – is an outspoken act of provocation that will in no way help to maintain security in Europe." Zakharova said it was clear that containing Russia had once again become NATO's main task. In recent days, NATO has established several battalion-sized combat groups in Eastern Europe and increased the number of aircraft patrolling that airspace.
Zakharova said that at the emergency meeting of NATO foreign ministers on March 4, NATO also announced the deployment of more than 130 aircraft and 200 ships on the east wing. "All of this is done under the pretext that Russia poses a threat to NATO."