The Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginene stated the intention to convene the National Security Commission and consider the possibility of closing the border with Belarus due to the growing threat of meteorological balloons, Lithuanian media reported on November 24. Vilnius also reports that Vilnius Airport was twice forced to suspend operations again due to this threat.
According to Ruginene, the decision to open the border was adopted unanimously at the National Security Commission meeting, but further steps depend on how the situation develops; a hybrid attack could force the country to consider further actions, including closing the border for an indefinite period.
«The contraband balloons were flying and, probably, will fly. By opening the border, we saw that we were right after all: this is a hybrid attack, and on the Belarus side we are observing illegal actions, as our trucks are detained, and from their side the border does not open»
– Inga Ruginene
«We will discuss everything; closing the border is not the only measure»
– Inga Ruginene
She also noted that after the border was opened on the other side there were positive developments, but the change in the situation gives Vilnius the right to consider the strictest measures.
According to Ruginene, last night meteorological balloons involved in contraband also penetrated Latvia’s airspace. Work is also ongoing with the United States and the European Commission regarding Minsk’s actions and sanctions against Belarus.
In recent days, Vilnius Airport’s operations were stopped twice due to the threat of smuggling weather balloons; most recently on November 20, affecting over 1,100 passengers and 10 flights. This occurred as Lithuania resumed operating border checkpoints along the Belarus border.
In response to these events, Lukashenko signed a decree in October banning the movement of freight vehicles, tractors and trailers registered in Poland and Lithuania, as well as passenger cars from Poland; more than a thousand trucks have since not been allowed to leave the country and have been sent to guarded parking areas near the border.