Lithuania accuses Belarus of violating state border

Lithuania has handed in a diplomatic note to Belarus about border violation after three armed Belarusian border guards entered Lithuania, the Foreign Ministry said on January 23.

The incident occurred on Monday. According to the State Border Guard Service (VSAT), the three armed Belarusian border guards entered up to 2.5 meters into Lithuania’s territory Ignalina District, LRT reports.

After approaching a physical barrier on the Lithuanian side, they turned back and returned to Belarus, the VSAT said. The incident was monitored by Lithuanian border guards on CCTV.

According to the VSAT, the Belarusian border guards were walking along the border in the snowdrifts on Monday near the village of Vaitiškė in Ignalina District. They approached a snow-covered and partly damaged patrol bridge on their side, turned and crossed the borderline.

Belarusian border guards near the Lithuanian border

In the note, the Foreign Ministry expressed a strong protest against the repeated violations of the Lithuanian border. The note was handed into the Belarusian temporary chargé d’affaires in Lithuania on January 23.

Speaking with BNS earlier in the day, VSAT chief Rustamas Liubajevas said the incident was a deliberate provocation. The situation was under control, he said, and Lithuanian border guards were ready to respond.

According to the border service, all evidence is being collected and it considers launching a pre-trial investigation.

In April 2023, Lithuanian border guards recorded two similar incidents in Šalčininkai and Švenčionys Districts.