While holding the position of head of the group of foreign policy advisors to President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus in 2004–2006, and the position of Ambassador of Lithuania to Belarus in 2007–2012, Edminas Bagdonas consistently supported EHU at the earliest stages of the resumption of the activities of the Belarusian university-in-exile in Vilnius. Thanks to the active assistance of Ambassador Edminas Bagdonas, hundreds of students, teachers and staff of EHU received the most prompt and regular visa support.
Ambassador Edminas Bagdonas showed particular leadership on January 21, 2011 – the day of Alexander Lukashenko’s inauguration, when representatives of twelve diplomatic missions and the Charge d’Affaires of the EU Delegation to Belarus visited EHU and condemned violations of electoral rights in the elections on December 19, 2010 in Belarus and discussed it with the university community. In 2011, with the direct support of Ambassador Edminas Bagdonas, the EHU Alumni Meeting Day was held for the first time in the Embassy of Lithuania in Belarus, which marked the beginning of the tradition of holding the annual EHU Alumni Homecoming.
Ambassador Edminas Bagdonas passed away at the age of 57, being the Ambassador of Lithuania to the United Arab Emirates. The university community mourns along with the relatives and colleagues of Ambassador Edminas Bagdonas and expresses sincere words of support.
