Lithuania will hold interagency, state-level functional exercises Monday to assess controls for simplified transit across its territory, officials said.
The drills, organised by the Police Department, will test coordination and response by public security services to potential emergency situations, according to Mindaugas Bajarūnas, an adviser to the interior minister.
Participants will include Lithuanian police, the State Border Guard Service, the Public Security Service and representatives of the rail transport sector.
Authorities warned that the exercises could cause brief traffic disruptions in certain areas, including temporary road closures and checks of vehicles and pedestrians.
Simplified transit – commonly known as Kaliningrad transit – is carried out under existing agreements between the European Union and Russia and the obligations set out in those accords.
Lithuania decided to review the procedure after a Russian citizen jumped out of a transit train traveling from Adler to Kaliningrad while it was crossing Lithuanian territory last June.
Following the incident, authorities strengthened inspection and escort mechanisms for transit transport. The State Border Guard Service, Lithuanian police and the Public Security Service agreed to coordinate more closely in overseeing Kaliningrad transit.
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