22 февраля 2024 — 14:00
The Lithuanian government has decided to close the border checkpoints on the border with Belarus "Lavorishkes" (Kotlovka on the Belarusian side) and "Raigardas" (Privalka) from March 1, Interfax reports.
After the Cabinet of Ministers makes such a decision, two checkpoints will continue to operate on the border with Belarus - "Myadininkai" (Kamenny Log on the Belarusian side) and "Shalchininkai" (Benyakoni). Last summer, Lithuania closed two more border crossings - Shumskas and Tveryachus.
The Lithuanian government also agreed to limit the boarding and disembarkation of passengers at the Ken railway border checkpoint, and to stop the movement of pedestrians and cyclists across the border with Belarus. A similar proposal concerns the Kibartai railway border checkpoint (Chernyshevskoye) on the border of Lithuania with the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation. This decision was made because people traveling by transit trains to the Kaliningrad region and holding EU visas disembark at these checkpoints in Lithuania.
Earlier, Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite said that about 13 thousand people a year disembark or board trains in Ken.
In addition, the Lithuanian government has decided to stop the passage of pedestrians and cyclists through the Myadininkai and Shalchininkai checkpoints, as well as gradually reduce the number of permits issued to Belarusian and Lithuanian carriers carrying out regular international passenger transportation by buses.
The Lithuanian authorities claim that this is aimed at solving national security problems, suppressing smuggling and violations of international sanctions.