US EditionLukashenko says Lithuania's border closure a 'crazy scam'
Lithuania closed its border and airports after dozens of illegal cigarette balloons from Belarus, calling it a hybrid attack and arresting several suspects, officials said.
- Last week, Lithuania shut its last two border crossings with Belarus and closed Vilnius and Kaunas airports after dozens of airborne devices forced temporary shutdowns.
- The Lithuanian government framed the episode as a `hybrid attack`, with Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene saying Belarusian authorities' inaction suggests involvement.
- Several people were arrested after trying to recover the cigarettes loaded on the balloons, Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov called Lithuania's accusations a `provocation` and Belarus summoned the Lithuanian embassy's charge d'affaires in protest.
- Lithuania will decide on Wednesday how long to keep the border closed, and the Lithuanian army has been authorised to shoot down such balloons.
- The incident fits into broader tensions as Lithuania hosts Belarus' exiled opposition and many European nations say hybrid attacks have soared recently, blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin's government.
21 Articles
21 Articles
The Lithuanian government has decided to keep its border crossings with its neighbor closed for at least a month in response to balloons carrying smuggled goods from Belarus that have begun disrupting air traffic in Vilnius. Lithuania wants to pressure its neighbor to end the hybrid attack.
Dnevni list Danas
Ukrinform (UA)The Lithuanian government announced today that it is closing its border with Belarus for a month due to the arrival of balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes from that country, which Vilnius described as a "hybrid attack".
abc
diarioestrategia.clThe government of Lithuania has made this Wednesday official the closure of the steps that were still operational on the border with Belarus for an initial period of one month, in a direct response to the increase of the balloons smuggled in this area. Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene had already advanced on Monday the measure, which affects the steps of Salcininkai and Medininkai. The latter will remain partially operational, as he will still be a…
Lithuania announced on Wednesday the closure for a month of its border with Belarus, in retaliation for the intrusion of balloons carrying contraband cigarettes from that country, denounced by Vilnius as a "hybrid attack". ...
Belarus is upsetting Lithuania with simple balloons. An annoying action – but according to the expert Boris Ginzburg also an amazingly versatile signal.
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