Lukashenko’s announcement about closing the borders is not followed by action / Article / LSM.lv

Alexander Lukashenko’s threat to close the border with Poland and Lithuania has not yet materialized. There is no change in movement across national borders. Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs (“New Unity”) points out that if the borders are closed, Latvia would become the only way for people to get out of Belarus.

Alexander Lukashenko announced yesterday at the Women’s Forum about the closure of the state border with Lithuania and Poland and the strengthening of controls on the border with Ukraine. This must be done in order to avert the threat from the west.

“We are forced to withdraw forces from the streets. As I said – half the army to mobilize in combat readiness and close the state border with the West, first of all with Lithuania and Poland,” said Lukashenko.

The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates to Latvian Television that there have been no changes at the border according to Lukashenko’s statement. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Lins Linkēvičs calls the statement inadequate and emphasizes that Lithuania does not pose any threat.

“Since there was a statement about the redirection of half of Belarus’s military forces to the western border, as if there were any threats and someone to attack – it’s really worrying in the sense that it’s an inadequate response from an inadequate person. That’s all that can be said,” said Linkēvičs.

Linkēvičs also emphasizes that it is not clear what closing the borders would mean – whether it would apply only to the population or to cargo. He recalls that Lukashenko has made similar threats before, but no real action has been taken. Latvian Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs also points out that as long as the statement does not follow practical steps, it can be perceived as part of Lukashenko’s internal propaganda goals. However, Latvia should be ready for the possibility that Belarus will really close the borders with Lithuania and Poland.

“Then the Latvian-Belarusian border, and yesterday there was no word about Latvia, would become the only one, I would even say a humanitarian corridor for those people who would like to leave the country for political reasons, and our institutions must be ready to react fairly quickly. transit, to Lithuania or Poland. In my opinion, it would be important that people are given such an opportunity, “said Rinkēvičs.

Foreign policy expert Andris Sprūds does not rule out the temporary closure of borders, however, he emphasizes that access to the port of Klaipeda is very important for the Belarusian economy. According to him, Latvia has not been mentioned by Lukashenko both because Lithuania and Poland have been more categorical in their rhetoric, and because Lukashenko’s opposition is in these countries.

“[Valērijs] Cepkalo is in Poland, [Svetlana] Tikhanovsky is in Lithuania, and that gives Lukashenko a chance to say that what is happening in Belarus has nothing to do with what is happening in Belarus itself. It is an external intervention, an external intervention, and therefore has the right to close these borders. At least a statement to say that these borders are being closed, “explained Sprūds.

Opposition candidate in the presidential election called Tikhanovsky Lukashenko’s announcement of the closure of the border the words of a weak man from the imaginary world and stresses that Lukashenko continues to intimidate with non-existent enemies.

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