Lithuania’s FM accuses Minsk of holding Lithuanian trucks to blackmail Vilnius
November 26, Pozirk. Belarus is trying to change Lithuania’s policies through blackmail, in a gangster-like manner, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys has told LRT in a comment on more than 1,200 Lithuanian trucks stranded in Belarus.
Minsk insists on holding consultations at the level of foreign ministries, which, according to Budrys, would allow Alaksandar Łukašenka’s regime to break its international isolation and potentially move towards lifting of sanctions. However, Lithuania already has several channels to exchange positions with Belarus, he noted.
With sanctions against Belarus likely to be extended in February, Minsk could once again seize property to veto the restrictions, the diplomat warned. Belarusian authorities are seeking the lifting of European sanctions, which are “very painful for them economically and financially,” he added.
Yesterday, Belarusian Foreign Minister Maksim Ryžankoŭ described Lithuania’s concerns about border tensions with Belarus as hysteria. Meanwhile, more than 1,200 Lithuanian trucks are not allowed to leave Belarusian territory.
The trucks had entered Belarus before Lithuania closed the border in late October and are currently parked in designated holding areas even after Lithuania reopened the Medininkai–Kamienny Łoh and Šalčininkai–Bieniakoni checkpoints on November 20. Vilnius accused Belarus of escalating tensions by seizing the vehicles and preventing their return.
Last week, Minsk proposed consultations between the countries’ foreign ministries to create a mechanism ensuring stable border-crossing procedures and preventing future closures, with Łukašenka reiterating this call yesterday.
Vilnius might be reluctant to accept the invitation because Lithuania limited official contacts with Minsk after what it called rigged presidential election of 2020.
Nausėda: smuggling must be addressed by border services, not diplomats
November 26, Pozirk. Lithuania is ready to cooperate with Belarus at a technical level to resolve tensions over cigarette-smuggling balloon incursions, Delfi reports, citing Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda. Alaksandar Łukašenka’s regime is trying to exploit uncertainty over the Ukraine peace …
