Lithuania Plans Indefinite Closure of Belarus Border Crossings

Lithuania’s Prime Minister, Inga Ruginienė, announced on Monday that the country plans to close its border crossings with Belarus indefinitely. This decision follows repeated disruptions at Vilnius Airport caused by suspected sightings of balloons allegedly used for smuggling cigarettes across the border. The National Security Commission convened after air traffic was suspended for three consecutive evenings due to these incidents.

The disruptions affected not only Vilnius Airport but also Kaunas Airport, which is situated farther from the Belarusian border. Flights were cancelled, diverted, and delayed as a precautionary measure. The border crossings at Medininkai and Šalčininkai were closed for several hours each time balloon sightings were reported. Following the incidents, Lithuania’s border guard service decided to close the border for 24 hours overnight on Sunday, as reported by BNS news agency.

Inga Ruginienė stated that the restrictions will remain in place until at least Wednesday, when her Cabinet is expected to make a decision on whether to extend the closure indefinitely. The draft decision already prepared by the government includes exemptions for diplomats and diplomatic mail. Citizens of Lithuania and other European Union member states will still be permitted to enter from Belarus.

Lithuania, a member of both the European Union and NATO, is strategically located on the eastern flank of the Western alliance, bordering Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave as well as Belarus, an ally of Russia. In the wake of these developments, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, a Belarusian opposition leader residing in exile in Lithuania, commented that the balloon incidents signify the Belarusian regime’s use of cigarette smuggling as a form of hybrid aggression against Europe.

“The closure of border crossings is a logical step to protect security,” Tsikhanouskaya stated. She expressed support for Lithuania and its allies in strengthening sanctions against those involved in cigarette smuggling activities.

The situation underscores ongoing tensions between Lithuania and Belarus, as well as the broader implications for security within the European region. The Lithuanian government’s proactive measures aim to address not only the immediate concerns surrounding border security but also the larger issue of smuggling that has been a persistent challenge for the country.

As the situation develops, further details are anticipated regarding the potential long-term implications of the border closure and its impact on regional stability.