{"id":76395,"date":"2024-03-29T15:17:03","date_gmt":"2024-03-29T12:17:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/76395\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"border-official-says-baltic-states-poland-seek-to-isolate-belarus","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/76395\/","title":{"rendered":"Border official says Baltic States, Poland seek to isolate Belarus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

March 29, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Western neighbors are trying to “economically isolate Belarus” by closing most of the border crossings and ignoring existing agreements, Kanstancin Mo\u0142asta\u016d of the State Border Committee told his counterparts from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Uzbekistan\u2019s Khiva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Baltic States and Poland continue to build up the NATO military forces and conduct drills near Belarus’ borders, the official said in an apparent reference to NATO\u2019s Steadfast Defender, the ongoing multi-domain drill.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The situation at the shared border with Ukraine “remains difficult,” he added, noting that Kyiv continues to use armed volunteer formations for border protection, which reportedly increases the risk of provocations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2023, Belarus\u2019 Western neighbors closed several border crossings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August 2023, Lithuania closed its \u0160umskas and Tvere\u010dius checkpoints, and in March 2024, Lavori\u0161k\u0117s and Raigardas, leaving only Medininkai and \u0160al\u010dininkai to handle the cross-border traffic. Vilnius cited national security, smuggling and international sanctions as the reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2023, after Belarus had sentenced journalist and Polish minority activist Andrej Pa\u010dobut (Andrzej Poczobut) to eight years in prison, Poland closed a key crossing at the shared border, Bobrowniki, until further notice. Currently, travelers can cross the Polish-Belarusian border only in Terespol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In September 2023, Latvia closed the Silene border crossing indefinitely, citing concerns about illegal migration from Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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