{"id":89653,"date":"2024-06-08T19:38:11","date_gmt":"2024-06-08T16:38:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/89653\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","slug":"minsk-denounces-arbitrary-confiscation-of-food-at-lithuanian-border","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/89653\/","title":{"rendered":"Minsk denounces “arbitrary” confiscation of food at Lithuanian border"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n \"\"\n
\n \n
\n (ua.news)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

June 8, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned Lithuanian and EU charg\u00e9s d’affaires to hand them a note of protests against the seizures of food, medicines and other goods from Belarusians at the border, the ministry’s press office reported yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus expressed serious concern about the “arbitrary” actions by Lithuanian customs officers and denounced the “undeniable violation of the basic human rights to humane treatment.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travelers who “spend twenty-four hours in queues artificially created by the Lithuanian side” clearly have “the legal right to carry food and medicines for personal use,” it said. Lithuania’s attempts to treat this as a violation of a sanctions regime are “frankly absurd.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statement came after Lithuania eased food import restrictions under pressure from Belarusian opposition politicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The clumsy decision by the Lithuanian authorities, under public pressure, to soften these inhumane measures somewhat and allow the import of goods in open packages does not change the essence of the situation,” the foreign ministry said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It stressed that Lithuania’s original intention was to “redirect sanctions” to ordinary Belarusians, as well as Lithuanians who take advantage of the opportunity to enter our country without visas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We intend to address European bodies with a demand to assess the compliance of Vilnius’ steps with the EU customs legislation and with the European values we so often hear about,” it said. “We urge Vilnius to abandon the shameful practice of humiliating ordinary people, including its own citizens, with the introduced measures. They have the right to freedom of movement under normal, humane conditions.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The restrictions on the export of food and other goods from Belarus into Lithuania took effect on June 3. It applies to 24 groups of goods, including live animals, meat and by-products, fish, dairy, eggs, honey, plants, vegetables, fruit, coffee and spices, grains, cereals, oils, beverages and tobacco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ban is “to limit the ability of Russia and Belarus to earn from the export of agricultural products and animal feed, to lower their potential revenues and to reduce Russia’s economic opportunities to finance its aggression against Ukraine,” according to the Lithuanian Customs Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the decision came into effect, Belarusians have not been allowed to bring food into Lithuania in their personal luggage. Customs officers required travelers to dispose of these items at checkpoints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, three days ago Lithuania eased the ban. Its customs committee announced that it does not apply to “transit goods” or “goods in open packages intended for personal consumption.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n \"\"