{"id":65572,"date":"2024-02-07T16:14:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-07T13:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/api.pozirk.online\/?post_type=articles&p=65572"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"border-crossings-closure-to-help-enforce-sanctions-lithuanias-interior-minister","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/65572\/","title":{"rendered":"Border crossings closure to help enforce sanctions \u2013 Lithuania\u2019s interior minister"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Agn\u0117 Bilotait\u0117's Facebook account)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

February 7, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> The closure of Lavori\u0161k\u0117s and Raigardas checkpoints would help Lithuania enforce Western sanctions, LRT <\/em>reported<\/a> yesterday, citing Interior Minister Agn\u0117 Bilotait\u0117.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The move would also improve control over smuggling and the vetting of travelers coming from Belarus, she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The closure of Lavori\u0161k\u0117s (Kat\u0142o\u016dka in Belarus) will reduce the cross-border traffic by 14 percent and Raigardas (Pryva\u0142ka), by 18 percent, the official noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smuggling remains a problem at Raigardas, she said, noting that seizures rose from \u20ac6 million in 2022 to \u20ac17 million in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She noted that 80 percent of Belarusians traveling through Lavori\u0161k\u0117s are going to Poland for shopping, while Lithuanian border control officers bear the heavy burden of processing such travelers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier the same day, the Lithuanian National Security Commission suggested closing down Lavori\u0161k\u0117s and Raigardas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On August 18, Lithuania closed the \u0160umskas and Tvere\u010dius checkpoints at the border with Belarus, citing security concerns and the lack of equipment for scanning truck trailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along with Lavori\u0161k\u0117s and Raigardas, Lithuania continues operating the Medininkai checkpoint at its shared border with Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Latvia to keep Silene border crossing closed<\/h3>\n
February 7, Pozirk. The Latvian government has decided against reopening the Silene border checkpoint at the shared border with Belarus, its website says. Initially, Latvia closed the checkpoint from September 19 to February 11, citing a sharp rise in illegal …<\/div>\n \n