{"id":163663,"date":"2025-11-11T13:22:20","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T10:22:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/163663\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"belarus-ties-release-of-lithuanian-trucks-to-border-reopening","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/163663\/","title":{"rendered":"Belarus ties release of Lithuanian trucks to border reopening"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

November 11, Pozirk. <\/strong>Lithuania-registered trucks will not be allowed to cross the border until normal traffic resumes at the border crossings in Medininkai-Kamienny \u0141oh and \u0160al\u010dininkai-Bieniakoni, the Belarusian State Customs Committee said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than 1,100 Lithuanian trucks stranded in Belarus were ordered to park at guarded parking lots near checkpoints until Lithuania opens the border with Belarus, the agency said yesterday. The drivers who fulfilled these requirements may leave Belarus, it added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Minsk also signaled that it would not permit the stranded Lithuanian trucks to leave Belarus until Vilnius reopens the border. Minsk also banned Lithuanian trucks from entering Poland and Latvia, insisting that they use Lithuanian checkpoints only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tensions between Belarus and Lithuania over cigarette-smuggling balloons have been rising since mid-October, forcing Lithuanian authorities to close the border and suspend operations at Vilnius Airport, located close to the Belarusian border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On October 29, the Lithuanian government ruled to keep the shared border with Belarus closed until November 30 following numerous airspace violations. The closure may be extended, Vilnius warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus described the Lithuanian decision to close the border as \u201ca politicized and ill-considered move\u201d that has caused significant losses for transport companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Border crossings in Medininkai and \u0160al\u010dininkai were the only two checkpoints handling all cross-border traffic between Lithuania and Belarus after Vilnius closed \u0160umskas and Tvere\u010dius crossings in 2023 and Lavori\u0161k\u0117s and Raigardas in 2024, citing national security and smuggling among the reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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