Lithuania Shuts Down Border Checkpoints with Belarus Amidst Geopolitical Tensions

[ビリニュス １６日 ロイター] – The Lithuanian government announced on Wednesday that two of the six checkpoints on the border with neighboring Belarus will be closed from the 18th, two of which are not used by commercial vehicles. “Geopolitical circumstances” are the reason.

Soldiers from the Russian private military company Wagner have been stationed in Belarus for several weeks. The Lithuanian government did not cite threats as the reason for the closure of the checkpoints, but has urged citizens to refrain from traveling to Belarus in recent weeks.

Belarusian border guards have accused Lithuania of restricting trade and the flow of people, citing security threats such as Wagner’s presence in the country.

Poland, which has closed all but one of its border crossings with Belarus this year, said last week it planned to send about 10,000 troops to the border.

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2023-08-16 12:58:00