Łukašenka orders FM Ryžankoŭ to address border tensions with Lithuania

November 11, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka has instructed Foreign Minister Maksim Ryžankoŭ to negotiate “normalizing the situation and resuming full-fledged operation of checkpoints” on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border, his press office reports.
The Belarusian ruler’s move followed today’s meeting with Ryžankoŭ, State Border Committee Chairman Kanstancin Mołastaŭ and Committee for State Security (KGB) chief Ivan Tertel.
Belarusian Security Council head Alaksandar Valfovič will reportedly coordinate talks with Vilnius.
Tensions between Belarus and Lithuania over cigarette-smuggling balloons have been rising since mid-October, forcing Lithuanian authorities to briefly close the border on several occasions and suspend operations at Vilnius Airport, located close to the Belarusian border.
On October 29, the Lithuanian government ruled to keep the shared border with Belarus closed until November 30 following numerous airspace violations. The closure may be extended, Vilnius warned.
Belarus described the Lithuanian decision to close the border as “a politicized and ill-considered move” that has caused significant losses for transport companies. Minsk banned nearly 1,100 Lithuania-registered trucks stranded in Belarus from leaving, linking their release to border reopening.
Lithuania’s top diplomat discusses Minsk’s hybrid threats in Washington
- EconomyBrest region, Minsk report GDP growthThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPoland’s Senate demands release of journalist Andrej PačobutThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus restricts access to 63 percent of forests over fire fearsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBiełstat reports rise in Belarusian companies’ CapExThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsViasna to operate in both Vilnius and WarsawThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- Politics
- PoliticsŁukašenka ready to expand ties with Israel as Middle East conflict settlesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLithuanian security chief warns against starting dialogue with MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsAmnesty International: human rights in Belarus “severely restricted” in 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBudrys calls for pressure on Łukašenka over EHU “extremist” designationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsUN experts sound alarms over detention conditions at Navapołack penal colonyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka blames EU for sanctions, welcomes closer engagement with USThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyWarsaw arrests two Belarusians over drone cigarette smugglingThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁatuška lobbies for sanctions on Minsk at PACE’s political affairs committeeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyEDB expects Belarus’ economy to resume growth in Q2The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics, SecurityLower house speaker to attend security meeting in MoscowThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyLithuanian inmate sues president for refusing to exchange him for Belarus prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+


