Lithuania issues protest note to Belarus over weather balloon incidents

Lithuania has delivered a formal note of protest to the acting chargé d’affaires of Belarus in Vilnius, accusing Minsk of failing to prevent repeated incursions of weather balloons into Lithuanian airspace. 

The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry demanded that Belarus halt what it described as ongoing hybrid activities involving the launch of such balloons, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The ministry said the Belarusian representative was urged to ensure that Minsk met its international obligations by taking immediate steps to control its airspace and state border, prevent further violations, and implement effective measures to curb international crimes carried out by organised groups.

Lithuanian officials made no mention of a drone that Minsk claims had been launched from Lithuanian territory toward Belarus.

Lithuanian authorities claim smugglers are using weather balloons to transport contraband cigarettes and accuse Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of enabling these operations, labelling them a form of hybrid attack.

In response, Lithuania closed both border crossings with Belarus in October, though they were reopened last week after the air traffic disruptions subsided. 

By Sabina Mammadli