An archive photo
MINSK, 8 November (BelTA) – Lithuania plans to seek compensation from Belarus to cover its carriers’ losses, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Lithuania Ignas Dobrovolskas said, Lithuanian media reported.
“Lithuania urges its carriers to document their financial losses, which may be claimed from Belarus or assets under its control when legal possibilities are considered,” Ignas Dobrovolskas said.
Traffic through the Salcininkai border checkpoint was completely suspended, while the operation of the Medininkai checkpoint was limited to exceptions. At Medininkai, only diplomats, individuals with a simplified transit document, Lithuanian citizens and their families returning to their homeland, EU citizens with family members, and foreigners with permanent residency in Lithuania or a humanitarian visa are allowed to cross the border. In response, Belarus restricted the movement of trucks, tractor units, and trailers (semi-trailers) with Lithuanian registration on the Belarusian-Lithuanian section of the border.
On 6 November, the State Customs Committee of Belarus reported that Lithuania, having closed the border with our country, stated it would appeal to the Belarusian side with a request to allow Lithuanian cargo vehicles to return to their territory. The Lithuanian authorities came to this decision after being approached by their own carriers demanding the opening of the Belarusian-Lithuanian border section, which is the only way for the vehicles to return to Lithuania and resume normal traffic. However, out of 5,000 tractor units and trailers remaining in Belarus after the border closure, Lithuanian control services allowed only 180 vehicles to enter their territory over five days.
On the same day, the spokesperson for the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ruslan Varankov recalled that the decision to close the border was made unilaterally and exclusively by the Lithuanian side. “Belarus is not responsible for its negative consequences, which have proven multifaceted, ranging from issues with freight transport to significant damage inflicted not only on Belarusian citizens and business and the Lithuanian side itself, but also on citizens of third countries, including EU member states,” he emphasized. “For our part, we strongly urge the Lithuanian authorities to revoke their decision and resume the normal operation of border checkpoints for citizens, vehicles, and cargo.”
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