Lithuania has handed in a diplomatic note to Belarus about border violation after three armed Belarusian border guards entered Lithuania, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
The incident occurred on Monday. According to the State Border Guard Service (VSAT), the three armed Belarusian border guards entered up to 2.5 meters into Lithuania’s territory Ignalina District.
After approaching a physical barrier on the Lithuanian side, they turned back and returned to Belarus, the VSAT said. The incident was monitored Lithuanian border guards on CCTV.
According to the VSAT, the Belarusian border guards were walking along the border in the snowdrifts on Monday near the village of Vaitiškė in Ignalina District. They approached a snow-covered and partly damaged patrol bridge on their side, turned and crossed the border line.
In the note, the Foreign Ministry expressed a strong protest against the repeated violations of the Lithuanian border. The note was handed in to the Belarusian temporary chargé d’affaires in Lithuania on Tuesday.
Speaking with BNS earlier in the day, VSAT chief Rustamas Liubajevas said the incident was a deliberate provocation. The situation was under control, he said, and Lithuanian border guards were ready to respond.
According to the border service, all evidence is being collected and it considers launching a pre-trial investigation.
In April 2023, Lithuanian border guards recorded two similar incidents in Šalčininkai and Švenčionys Districts.
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