Language commission rejects proposal to change Belarus name in Lithuanian BNS2021.04.06 17:30 Flags of Belarus in Vilnius / D. Umbrasas/LRT A linguistic commission has advised against changing the name of the State of Belarus in Lithuanian. In Lithuanian, the country is called ‘Baltarusija’, literally ‘White Russia’. Belarusian opposition figure Svetlana Tikhanovkaya, who is currently residing in Vilnius, has asked that it be called ‘Belarusia’ or ‘Baltarusia’, saying this would better reflect her country's national identity and distinctiveness from Russia. Last week, a temporary sub-commission under the State Commission of the Lithuanian Language (VLKK) looked into the proposal, but said it would not agree with the rules of the Lithuanian language.