{"id":162196,"date":"2025-10-29T21:41:04","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T18:41:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/162196\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"eu-slams-belarus-over-provocative-actions-against-lithuania","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/162196\/","title":{"rendered":"EU slams Belarus over \u201cprovocative actions\u201d against Lithuania"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

October 29, Pozirk<\/em>. <\/strong>The European Union has strongly condemned<\/a> meteorological balloon incursions into Lithuania from Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese balloons are not merely smuggling tools, but occur in the context of a broader targeted hybrid campaign, along with other actions that also include state-sponsored migrant smuggling. All these actions must stop immediately. We call on the Belarusian regime to adopt without further delay effective measures to control its airspace, state border and territory, and fight and prevent organized criminal activities originating within it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sanctions on the Belarusian regime have been imposed, and the EU is prepared to take further appropriate measures should such actions continue, the EU warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The move comes as Lithuanian officials mull a response to incursions by weather balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes from Belarus. The incursions mask hybrid attacks to destabilize Lithuania, its President Gitanas Naus\u0117da told journalists yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officials documented more than 500 incidents of cigarette smuggling by weather balloons in the first nine months of 2025, Lithuania\u2019s Prosecutor General Nida Grunskien\u0117 said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yesterday, Vilnius closed the border crossings in Medininkai and \u0160al\u010dininkai \u2014 the only two checkpoints still handling all cross-border traffic between Lithuania and Belarus \u2014 citing an influx of cigarette-smuggling balloons. In 2023, Lithuania closed the \u0160umskas and Tvere\u010dius crossings, followed by Lavori\u0161k\u0117s and Raigardas in 2024, over national security and smuggling concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka denounced Lithuania\u2019s closure of border checkpoints as \u201ca crazy gamble.\u201d He advised Lithuania to deal with the issue domestically: \u201cIf small balloons carrying cigarettes or something else are flying there, I believe the problem should be solved within their territory. Because they don\u2019t just fly to nowhere. Someone receives them, and someone profits. They need to identify and root out these schemes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cigarette smuggling remains a lucrative illegal trade: while legally sold cigarettes are of higher quality, they cost three to four times more in Lithuania than those produced in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lithuania\u2019s PM Ruginen\u0117 to discuss Belarus border closure with Poland\u2019s Tusk<\/h3>\n
October 29, Pozirk. Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginen\u0117 has already briefly discussed Belarus border closure with her Polish counterpart Donald Tusk, Delfi reported. She told reporters that she intends to hold further talks. Today, the Lithuanian government ruled to keep …<\/div>\n \n