{"id":166002,"date":"2025-11-28T12:34:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-28T09:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/166002\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"lithuanias-border-guard-chief-minsk-using-criminals-for-smuggling-cigarettes","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/166002\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuania\u2019s border guard chief: Minsk using criminals for smuggling cigarettes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Lithuanian State Border Guard Service)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

November 28, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka’s regime is involved in hybrid attacks against Lithuania and is using criminals to smuggle cigarettes, Rustamas Liubajevas, head of the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service, has told LRT Radio<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe regime draws in criminals from both Belarus and Lithuania, which is why we are targeting the smuggling networks operating here, including those behind the balloon smuggling,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lithuanian border guards have recently coordinated a large-scale operation to prevent smuggling by balloons and identify suspects, the official noted. Law enforcers obtained significant information from more than 30 searches in the Vilnius and Druskininkai municipalities, as well as in the Var\u0117na and \u0160al\u010dininkai districts, he added, without specifying details.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. The Medininkai\u2013Kamienny \u0141oh and \u0160al\u010dininkai\u2013Bieniakoni checkpoints at the Lithuanian-Belarusian border remained closed from October 29 until November 20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the resumption of cross-border traffic, Lithuania has suspended operations at Vilnius Airport on three occasions over new incursions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yesterday, Prime Minister Inga Ruginien\u0117 said Lithuania filed a complaint with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) over the air traffic disruptions and is considering legal action at the UN International Court of Justice. She also announced that Latvia and Poland are ready to discuss a coordinated closure of their borders with Belarus should incursions continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, hundreds of Lithuania-registered trucks remain stranded in Belarus. Belarusian authorities barred these cargo vehicles from leaving the country and ordered them moved to guarded parking sites. Vilnius, in turn, accused Belarus of escalation by seizing the vehicles and preventing their return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsk pushes for consultations between the countries\u2019 foreign ministries, yet Lithuania views potential talks as an effort to break the international isolation of Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s regime and potentially pave the way for easing sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vilnius is also reluctant to launch negotiations after Lithuania curtailed official contacts with Minsk in response to what it described as the rigged 2020 presidential election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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