{"id":188118,"date":"2026-05-19T16:11:44","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T13:11:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/188118\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T16:11:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T13:11:47","slug":"lithuania-sends-icao-evidence-of-balloon-incursions-from-belarus","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/188118\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuania sends ICAO evidence of balloon incursions from Belarus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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May 19, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Lithuanian Transport Minister Juras Taminskas has submitted additional evidence of hybrid attacks from Belarus targeting Lithuania\u2019s civil aviation to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the ministry\u2019s press office reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three months ago, Vilnius formally complained to the ICAO about invasions of its airspace from Belarus by cigarette-smuggling weather balloons. Taminskas said that he had flagged the airspace violations to ICAO in October 2025, but the organization replied that it needed \u201cconcrete evidence\u201d to probe the incidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow we are taking another important step \u2013 we are providing additional evidence of Belarus’ illegal actions against Lithuania, which pose a threat to civil aviation safety,\u201d Lithuanian Deputy Transport Minister Roderikas \u017diobakas noted, acknowledging cooperation with other Lithuanian government agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The submitted data is said to confirm that unmanned balloons launched from the territory of Belarus systematically violate Lithuanian airspace and pose a real threat to civil aircraft and passengers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most recent suspension of operations at Vilnius International Airport occurred six days ago after the detection of navigation markers consistent with weather balloons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tensions between Belarus and Lithuania over cigarette-smuggling balloons have been rising since last October, forcing Lithuanian authorities to close the border and suspend operations at Vilnius International Airport, located close to the Belarusian border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vilnius declared an \u201cextreme situation,\u201d a low-level emergency, on December 9 in response to what it called \u201ca hybrid attack from Belarus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaksandar Luka\u0161enka, however, played down Vilnius\u2019s concerns in mid-March, claiming that weather balloons could not affect airport operations. He also told state media journalists that police had arrested five persons suspected of involvement in smuggling cigarettes by air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The remarks came a day after \u0141uka\u0161enka held talks with John Coale, US special envoy for Belarus, who negotiated the release of 250 imprisoned Belarusian dissidents and raised Lithuania\u2019s concerns over cigarette smuggling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vilnius has repeatedly tied any potential engagement with Minsk to a halt in the ongoing balloon incursions, among other conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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