An archive photo
MINSK, 27 October (BelTA) – Following a meeting of the National Security Commission on 27 October, Lithuanian authorities announced that the country will close its border with Belarus indefinitely, though certain exceptions will apply, Lithuanian media reported.
The final decision on the indefinite closure of the border with Belarus is planned for 29 October. “The government will convene for a meeting on Wednesday. We are ready to make a decision on the indefinite closure of the border with Belarus, with some exceptions,” Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė told journalists.
According to her, the restrictions will not apply to diplomats and diplomatic bags. Furthermore, citizens of Lithuania and European Union countries will be permitted to enter. All other traffic will be halted.
Inga Ruginienė also stated at a press conference that Lithuania is “actively consulting and communicating with its allies and neighbors Poland and Latvia” on this matter.
On Sunday, 26 October, Lithuania closed the two operational border checkpoints with Belarus Medininkai and Šalčininkai. Prior to this, on 22 October, the Belarusian-Lithuanian border was closed by the Lithuanian side for six hours, and on 25 October – from midnight until noon. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda proposed a long-term closure of the border with Belarus and restrictions on transit to Kaliningrad. Today, on 27 October, this issue was discussed at a meeting of the governmental National Security Commission, chaired by Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė.
The final decision on the indefinite closure of the border with Belarus is planned for 29 October. “The government will convene for a meeting on Wednesday. We are ready to make a decision on the indefinite closure of the border with Belarus, with some exceptions,” Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė told journalists.
According to her, the restrictions will not apply to diplomats and diplomatic bags. Furthermore, citizens of Lithuania and European Union countries will be permitted to enter. All other traffic will be halted.
Inga Ruginienė also stated at a press conference that Lithuania is “actively consulting and communicating with its allies and neighbors Poland and Latvia” on this matter.
On Sunday, 26 October, Lithuania closed the two operational border checkpoints with Belarus Medininkai and Šalčininkai. Prior to this, on 22 October, the Belarusian-Lithuanian border was closed by the Lithuanian side for six hours, and on 25 October – from midnight until noon. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda proposed a long-term closure of the border with Belarus and restrictions on transit to Kaliningrad. Today, on 27 October, this issue was discussed at a meeting of the governmental National Security Commission, chaired by Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė.
The State Customs Committee of Belarus has commented: “Each time, the Lithuanian authorities do this [close the border] without prior warning, leaving drivers of passenger cars stranded at the checkpoints. This leaves people confused and unsure of their next steps. The temporary closure is less critical for truck drivers, considering that the Lithuanians are already working at a pace ten times slower than their potential.”
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