“Our House” in Vilnius Marks Fourth Anniversary of the 2022 Belarusian Referendum with Anti-Nuclear Protest

Belarusian and Iranian diaspora rally in Vilnius against nuclear militarisation of Belarus

On 27 February 2026, Belarusians living in Vilnius gathered at Kudirkos Square for a public action dedicated to peace, regional security, and opposition to the militarisation of Belarus. The event, held at 18:00, united two significant occasions: the International Days of Action Against Foreign Military Bases (22-23 February) and the fourth anniversary of the constitutional referendum held in Belarus on 27 February 2022. The action was also supported by the Iranian diaspora in Vilnius, expressing shared solidarity against nuclear escalation and militarisation.

The demonstration expressed solidarity with efforts to maintain peace and security in the Baltic region and across Eastern Europe.

Background: The 2022 Constitutional Change

On 27 February 2022, a constitutional referendum in Belarus approved amendments that removed the country’s longstanding commitment to neutrality and non-nuclear status. The changes affected Article 18 of the Constitution, which previously stated that Belarus sought to make its territory a nuclear-free zone and remain neutral.

The removal of this clause opened the way for the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory and further deepened Belarus’ integration into Russia’s nuclear military strategy.

Main Messages of the Action

Participants in Vilnius emphasised that their protest was directed against the militarisation of Belarus and against transforming the country into a platform for regional confrontation. The goals of the action included opposition:

• to the presence of Russian foreign military bases in Belarus;
• to Belarus’ growing nuclear, military, and political dependence on the Russian Federation;
• to the use of Belarusian territory as a launchpad for nuclear military aggression;
• to the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus;
• to continued Russian military aggression and security threats toward neighbouring states, including the Baltic countries.

Participants advocated for a different future for Belarus — one based on sovereignty, neutrality, peace, and demilitarisation.

Security and Regional Risks

Speakers at the event noted that turning Belarus into a component of a nuclear military strategy creates serious consequences:

• the country becomes a potential target in case of military escalation;
• security risks increase for neighbouring states, including Lithuania;
• regional and international stability is undermined;
• Belarus becomes involved in strategic military confrontations that do not reflect the interests of its citizens.

Participants stated that the militarisation of Belarus and the use of its territory for nuclear pressure on neighbouring countries is unacceptable and destabilising for Eastern Europe.

Call for a Peaceful and Neutral Belarus

The organisers from “Our House” declared that Belarus should remain a peaceful and sovereign state without foreign military bases or nuclear weapons. The action aimed to remind international audiences that many Belarusians continue to oppose the country’s militarisation and seek a future based on peace rather than geopolitical confrontation.

The protest in Vilnius was supported by Iranian activists and representatives of the Iranian diaspora, underlining a shared transnational concern about nuclear escalation and militarisation in the region.