You're listening to a podcast from the BBC World Service. This is Hard Talk with me, Stephen Sacker.

Thanks for downloading this edition of the program. I do hope you enjoy it. Welcome to Hard Talk on the BBC World

Service with me, Stephen Sacker. My guest today spent much of his professional career as an economist and banker,

but last year he entered the

political fray, ran as an independent candidate for the presidency of Lithuania, and won. Now,

Guitanas Narseda finds himself in the thick of a geopolitical crisis on Europe's eastern flank,

as neighbouring Belarus continues to be convulsed by anti-government protests.

Ever since last month's heavily disputed Belarusian presidential election,

demonstrators have been demanding the resignation of longtime authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko.

Lithuania's leaders have voiced support for the protesters,

and many Belarusian opposition figures, including their candidate in a disputed election,

are now in Lithuania. But is the EU ready to put real pressure on the Lukashenko regime,

and, by extension, stir fresh tension with Moscow.

Who holds the most powerful cards in this high-stakes confrontation on Europe's eastern edge?

Well, President Gittanas Nauseda joins me now from Vilnius. Welcome to Hard Talk.

Good evening. Mr. President, how do you see the power dynamic in Belarus right now? Do you think President Lukashenko has ridden out the storm?

Yes, of course. Alexander Lukashenko tries to buy the time and tries to suppress

the protests of peaceful people in the streets. Right now, the people are fighting for their

fundamental rights, to have free elections, to express their opinion about what is going on in Belarus.

And unfortunately, we see a lot of violations and discontinuous.

And it brings very huge concern to all of us, not only for neighboring countries,

Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Ukraine, but also for European Union.

...