Lithuania plans early reopening of border with Belarus

Lithuania is preparing to discuss the potential early reopening of its border checkpoints with Belarus in the coming days. President Gitanas Nausėda emphasized that the recent decline in the use of weather balloons for aerial smuggling was not due to meteorological conditions, but rather a result of Minsk receiving a “clear signal” from Vilnius and its allies.

Nausėda noted that Belarusian authorities were compelled to curb such activities thanks to coordinated measures by Lithuania, Poland, and the United States, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“The information we are receiving suggests that the other side has taken steps to limit this activity; a clear signal was sent,” he said. The president also addressed criticism over the border closure, which left thousands of Lithuanian trucks stranded in Belarus, stressing that Vilnius acted in a timely manner and in close coordination with its allies.

In anticipation of a possible reopening, Belarus has already begun selling bus tickets to Lithuania. According to Minsktrans, services to Vilnius, Kaunas, and Riga are expected to resume from November 21. Tickets are available both at physical offices and online, though carriers have warned that delays may occur due to ongoing border-related disruptions. Demand for travel remains high, and private operators, including Atlas, have announced the resumption of their routes.

On October 29 the Lithuanian government authorized closing the border crossings at the Lithuanian-Belarusian border till November 30. The border crossing Salcininkai (Benyakoni on the Belarusian side) is closed to all traffic while the border crossing Medininkai (Kamenny Log on the Belarusian side) is still open to individuals, for whom exceptions have been made.

By Vafa Guliyeva