Lithuania reopened two border checkpoints with Belarus

Lithuania has decided to reopen two border crossing points with Belarus ahead of the scheduled time. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

The discussion concerns the Šalčininkai and Medininkai crossing points. These points were closed at the end of October due to meteorological balloons flying from Belarus, which disrupted the operation of Vilnius airport.

Initially, these restrictions were planned to last until November 30. According to Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovich, the situation has changed and there is no longer a need to continue the previous restrictions.

Nevertheless, the government emphasized that if problems related to smuggling balloons arise again, the borders may be closed once more. Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė noted that the number of meteorological balloons has significantly decreased and Vilnius airport is operating steadily.

According to her, one day is sufficient to resume the operation of the crossing points. On November 17, after Poland reopened its control points on the border with Belarus, Lithuania held technical negotiations with the Belarusian border service.

During the negotiations, issues of smuggling, migration, and Lithuanian trucks stranded in the neighboring country were discussed. The head of the Lithuanian Border Service, Rustamas Lyubajevas, stated that Belarus expressed readiness to cooperate.

The Lithuanian side demanded to stop smuggling schemes and to enable the stranded trucks to return to their country. Previously, Belarus had stopped Lithuanian trucks from crossing the border, which caused over a thousand vehicles to remain in queues.

Minsk denied the smuggling accusations, emphasizing that Lithuanians themselves were involved in these activities. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko criticized Vilnius’s decision to close the crossing points as an “incorrect and illogical action.”