January 14, Pozirk. As of January 9, Belarus was still holding 410 Lithuanian trucks, 473 semi-trailers, and 30 other vehicles, lrt.lt reported, citing data from LINAVA, the Lithuanian National Road Carriers Association.
The actual number may be higher, as LINAVA relies only on data reported by companies. Its figures differ significantly from those published by the Lithuanian Customs Department, which reported 185 vehicles and semi-trailers on December 9 and 261 vehicles more recently.
Company executives have denied claims that some of the trucks stranded in Belarus during the border closure between October 29 and November 30 have since returned to Lithuania.
One executive, quoted by LINAVA, said his company continues to receive demands from Belarusian authorities to pay a €120 daily parking fee, which he described as “a ransom.” “But payment does not mean that you can get the truck,” he added.
Another executive, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Belarusian authorities had given his company until February 3 to pay parking fees, warning that the vehicle would otherwise be confiscated.
Most drivers have returned to Lithuania and are now working on other routes, LINAVA said, adding that some may still be in Belarus awaiting official permission to release the vehicles.
Lithuania closed the Medininkai–Kamienny Łoh and Šalčininkai–Bieniakoni border checkpoints with Belarus from October 29 to November 20 following incursions by air balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes from Belarus. Since then, the trucks have remained stranded on Belarusian territory.
Belarus barred the vehicles from leaving the country and ordered them to relocate to guarded parking sites. Lithuania, in turn, accused Belarus of escalating by effectively seizing the vehicles and preventing their return.
Vilnius has refused Minsk’s appeals for direct diplomatic talks, having significantly downgraded official contacts after what it described as Belarus’ rigged 2020 presidential election.
Minsk pushed for consultations between the two countries’ foreign ministries, while Lithuania views such talks as an attempt to break the international isolation of Alaksandar Łukašenka’s regime and potentially pave the way for easing sanctions.
Speaking at a government conference on December 9, the Belarusian leader outlined what Minsk would like to discuss in potential talks with Vilnius.
“Give us back the 17 or 20 trucks that you stole — the fire engines we shipped to Zimbabwe. Normalize operations at our health resort, where we treated children affected by Chernobyl. They actually took the resort away from children. And give us back the money we spent on building a port [in Lithuania],” he was quoted as saying by state media.
Łukašenka was likely referring to the Belorus health resort in Druskininkai and Biełaruśkalij’s 30 percent stake in Birių Krovinių Terminalas (BKT), a dry cargo terminal in Klaipėda.
Lithuania suspended the transshipment of Belarusian fertilizers through the port of Klaipėda on February 1, 2022, citing human rights abuses by Minsk. Biełaruśkalij has been under EU sanctions since 2021.
In August 2022, the Belarusian leader accused Lithuania of expropriating Biełaruśkalij’s assets.
