Lithuania to temporarily close two border crossing points with Belarus

The Lithuanian government has decided to temporarily close two border crossing points with Belarus starting August 18.

Source: LRT.

Details: On Wednesday, the government decided to temporarily close the checkpoints near the villages of Shumskas and Tvereciūs from August 18.

Currently, only passenger cars and empty trucks travel through these checkpoints.

Earlier, the head of the customs department, Darius Žvieronas, said that the closure of these checkpoints would not affect the movement of goods across the border with Belarus.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has previously admitted that Lithuania and its neighbors could close the border with Belarus if the security situation becomes too tense.

At the same time, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonite noted that closing more than two checkpoints on the border with Belarus without coordination with neighbors could have negative consequences for them, so if such a decision is considered, it is important to act in a coordinated manner.

Author - Olena Madiak, 16/08/2023