Lithuania has temporarily closed two of its six border crossings with the neighboring country in response to the presence of Russian Wagner mercenaries in Belarus. By decision of the government of the Baltic EU and NATO country, the two checkpoints Sumskas and Tverecius will be tight from Friday until further notice.
The other border crossings between Lithuania and authoritarian Belarus must remain open. Like Poland and Latvia, Lithuania is concerned about the activities of Wagner’s Russian private army in the neighboring country, which is closely allied to Moscow. After the failed uprising against Moscow, their troops camped in Belarus.
situation is tense
The situation is also tense because migrants from crisis areas want to go to Lithuania, which the Belarusian authorities tolerate or even promote in a targeted way to create a political pressure tool.
Border traffic is diverted
According to Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite, concrete blocks and rolls of barbed wire will have to be placed at the two checkpoints after the border is closed. Border traffic will be diverted to the Medininkai crossing, the largest and best-equipped of the six checkpoints on Lithuania’s 680-kilometer border with Belarus. According to Bilotaite, this should also curb the smuggling of goods.
Worried about long waiting times
Border Guard Chief Rustamas Liubajevas expects the closure of the two checkpoints, mainly used by people and light vehicles, to have “no particular impact” on freight traffic across the border. According to him, about 600 people a day pass through the Tverecius border crossing and about 1,600 travel in both directions via Sumskas.
Lithuanian carriers were less confident and warned that queues at the border could get longer. However, they did not question the decision to close the two checkpoints. National security is a priority, the transport companies emphasized.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
