The leader of Lithuania’s ruling Social Democratic Party on Monday defended the government’s decision to shut down the country’s last two operational border checkpoints with Belarus, calling the move necessary to counter threats posed by smugglers’ balloons.
Mindaugas Sinkevičius told LRT TV that Lithuania must be prepared for reprisals from Minsk but said the government acted appropriately after a series of incidents in which weather balloons carrying contraband cigarettes disrupted civil aviation.
“We always have to understand that we do not act unilaterally. When we take certain steps, we may face a response or a reaction, and that reaction, of course, comes in one form or another from the Belarusian side,” Sinkevičius said. “But I believe the decisions that were taken were right and necessary, as we needed to respond quickly to the never-ending balloons that have made life difficult for many travellers trying to reach Vilnius.”
The cabinet closed the Lithuanian border with Belarus for one month on October 30, with limited exceptions, after balloon activity forced airports to suspend operations several times in late October. The disruptions affected about 150 flights and more than 20,000 passengers.
Vilnius then argued that the Belarusian government was responsible for the smuggling activities.
Belarus has since retaliated by banning Lithuanian truck drivers from returning to Lithuania through its territory until the crossings reopen.
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