Belarus to retaliate for Lithuania border crossings closure – foreign ministry

February 22, Pozirk. Minsk has pledged a strong reaction to the upcoming closure of two border checkpoints by Lithuania, calling the move “extremely hostile.”
“These manipulations have one goal: to artificially present Belarus as an enemy, covering up their own economic miscalculations, the destruction of the transport industry, mindless arms race and violence against migrants at the border,” the Belarusian foreign ministry said.
“The increasing flow of their own citizens visiting Belarus visa-free and telling the truth about our country also remains extremely uncomfortable for the Lithuanian authorities,” it added.
It called on Vilnius to stop misinforming citizens and violating the rights to freedom of movement and trade.
The Lithuanian government is to close the Lavoriškės and Raigardas on March 1, after shutting down two other crossings last year. Only two crossings will remain open at the shared border.
Vilnius also plans to restrict the boarding and offboarding of passengers at the Kena railway border crossing, suspend the movement of pedestrians and cyclists through the Medininkai and Šalčininkai checkpoints and gradually reduce the number of permits issued to Belarusian and Lithuanian carriers operating interstate passenger bus services.
Lithuanian officials cited national security, smuggling and international sanctions compliance as the reason.
Lithuania to close two crossings at border with Belarus next week
- Security, SocietyFamilies reunited at Belarusian–Russian borderThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics, SecurityDefense minister hopes Belarus will increase potash fertilizer supplies to ZimbabweThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics, SecurityLithuanian police arrest 21 suspects in crackdown on cigarette smugglersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsInvestigative Committee opens extremism case against exiled activistThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus reports tourism export surge driven by arrivals from RussiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBiełstat: industrial inventories up 32.7 percent in January-NovemberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- EconomyCentral bank to set to limit money supply growth to 12 percent next yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsPoland sees drop in irregular crossings as undocumented migrants adapt tacticsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka seeks joint projects with BahrainThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBiełstat: corporate debt up 27.3 percent in January-OctoberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyRetail trade growth slowing down for eight consecutive monthsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics
- EconomyReal income growth slows down to 10 percent in January-OctoberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics
- PoliticsReprisals continue: 1,110 dissidents remain behind bars after high-profile releasesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics



