Lithuania has decided to close another two border crossing points with Belarus, the Lavoriškės and Raigardas border crossing points, leaving only two of them open for movement.
The Lavoriškės and Raigardas border crossing points will close on March 1, and for as long as they remain shut, it won’t be possible to pass from Lithuania to Belarus and the other way around.
Commenting on the decision, the Minister of Interior of Lithuania, Agnė Bilotaitė, said that such a measure is being implemented to control irregular migration and people smuggling and reduce traffic safety risks.
Large resources are needed to control flows, prevent smuggling, ensure international sanctions, and reduce traffic safety risks.
Minister Bilotaitė further emphasised the necessity of this step, citing the increasing challenges in controlling the flow of goods, transport, and people across the border.
With neighbouring states having only one functional checkpoint with Belarus, Minister Bilotaitė said that the burden of the country’s border crossing points has surged, and concerns have been raised regarding heightened activities of Belarusian intelligence and security services targeting Lithuania and its citizens.
The proposal to close two more border crossings is timely and necessary. Neighboring states have one functioning border checkpoint each, and four in Lithuania. As a result, 50 per cent of the flow of goods, transport, and people through Lithuanian-Belarusian border points increased.
With the decision, from March 1, only the Medininkai and Šalčininkai border crossing points will be open with Belarus.
However, restrictions will also apply at these two border crossing points. Lithuania has decided to restrict the movement of pedestrians and cyclists through the Medininkai and Šalčininkai border crossing points.
Measures have also been taken to restrict the boarding and disembarking of passengers at Kena and Kybarta railway checkpoints.
Furthermore, the issuance of permits for citizens of Belarus and Lithuanian carriers engaged in regular international bus transport will be limited to 50 per cent.
Data from the Lithuanian Ministry of Interior show that the country’s authorities carried out checks on almost 3.9 million people at the Belarus border. The majority of those checked were Belarus citizens, accounting for 66 percent of the total.
On the other hand, the Ministry revealed that 684,000 Lithuanian citizens crossed the border with Belarus in 2023, representing a 13 per cent decrease from 2022. Lithuanian citizens are highly advised by the country not to travel to Belarus and Russia.
