Lithuania’s Prosecutor General Nida Grunskienė has launched a pre-trial investigation into aiding another state in acting against Lithuania, following repeated incidents involving smugglers’ balloons carrying contraband.
The decision was made after reviewing GPS traces and the discovery of the balloons, as well as assessing the associated national security risks. Since October, airspace over Vilnius and Kaunas airports has been restricted more than ten times due to the balloons.
The Prosecutor General’s Office has tasked its Organised Crime and Corruption Investigation Department with leading and coordinating the probe.
Flights at Vilnius Airport were temporarily halted three times last week alone. Saulius Batavičius, CEO of state air navigation provider Oro Navigacija, said the balloons are deliberately released into zones hazardous to aviation.
Lithuanian officials describe the balloon incursions as a hybrid attack orchestrated by Minsk. The ongoing incidents prompted Lithuania to close its two operating border checkpoints with Belarus on October 30. The crossings reopened on November 20, though Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė has said the government reserves the right to close the border again if Belarus’ hybrid attack continues.
Interior Vice Minister Vaidotas Jakštas said on Monday that there are currently no plans to close the border again.
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