President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda declined to participate in a group photo with the leaders of countries attending the UN Climate Conference COP28 in Dubai due to the presence of Alexander Lukashenko, as reported by LRT.
"This is called a family photo. Lukashenko does not belong to the family we want to belong to," stated Nauseda.
The Lithuanian leader believes that standing next to Lukashenko in a photo is hypocritical.
"It would be hypocritical to stand shoulder to shoulder with the head of a state that has become a platform for Russia's aggression against Ukraine and, as if nothing is happening, discuss the future of peace and climate change. The Belarusian regime contributes to the destruction of the future world and, together with Russia, is responsible for what is happening in Ukraine—from the loss of lives to the catastrophic impact on the environment," he added.