The Lithuanian president has officially revoked the Second Class Order of the Grand Duke Gediminas award from Dmitro Tabačņiks, who received the honor in 1996 for his contributions to the development of cross-border relations between Lithuania and Ukraine. At the time, Tabačņiks was a prominent figure in the administration of then-Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma. His revocation arises after serious allegations of treason were brought against him following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has led to significant international scrutiny of individuals associated with the past Ukrainian government.

In the aftermath of the conflict, Tabačņiks was charged with treason for his actions, particularly following his acquisition of Russian citizenship, which resulted in the loss of his Ukrainian passport. In a landmark legal decision, he was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison in 2024 due to his betrayal of Ukrainian national interests. The case highlights the ongoing ramifications for former officials of the Yanukovych era as they face the consequences of their political choices during a tumultuous period in Ukraine's history.

Additionally, Tabačņiks has been embroiled in past controversies, including the mysterious disappearance of sensitive documents from the state archive in Lviv, further tarnishing his reputation. As international calls for accountability increase, the Canadian government also recently announced special economic measures against officials from the Yanukovych era, including Tabačņiks. This revocation by the Lithuanian president is part of a broader trend of countries reassessing their ties with individuals connected to authoritarian regimes or those deemed complicit in actions against Ukraine since the onset of the Russian aggression.