Games in Border Closure: 5,000 Lithuanian Trucks Stuck in Belarus

Due to the fact that about 5,000 Lithuanian trucks and trailers are stuck in Belarus and carriers are demanding urgent solutions from the government, Prime Minister Inga Ruginene says that Lithuania will appeal to Minsk with a request to allow the return of the trucks to Lithuania.

“I definitely did not hear about an ultimatum (from the carriers – BNS), at least it was not announced. But yesterday there was a meeting at the Ministry of Internal Affairs with transport organizations, and today it was decided to appeal to Belarus with a proposal to negotiate the return of Lithuanian trucks back home,” said Ruginene to journalists after the government meeting on Wednesday.

“This process is already underway, the agreement is in progress, so we will see what the results will be, and we will make every effort to ensure that Lithuanian trucks return home. However, the border itself will remain closed,” she added.

The National Association of Road Carriers Linava on Tuesday again appealed to the Prime Minister with a request to resolve the situation as soon as possible after Lithuania decided last week to close the last two border crossing points with Belarus for a month.

Meanwhile, Minister of Internal Affairs Vladislav Kondratovich claims that the issue of increasing the capacity of the partially functioning border crossing “Mėdininkai” is being considered.

“We are also thinking about how to increase the capacity (...), of course, there are restrictions from the Belarusian side that do not allow these vehicles to move through the territory of Belarus, so we will definitely be looking for (solutions – BNS), we will talk to the carriers,” Kondratovich told journalists on Wednesday at the government.

According to him, about 200 trucks can pass through the “Mėdininkai” crossing per day, and the current number, which is several times lower, the minister views as possible sabotage from Belarus.

“I don’t have the numbers (...), but perhaps 34 Lithuanian trucks were allowed through by the Belarusian side. It is quite possible that there is some sabotage on their part in this case. We need to see what purposes these trucks are intended for (...), but the border capacity is 10 times greater (...), so I think that 200 (Lithuanian trucks – BNS) can definitely be allowed per day,” Kondratovich explained.

According to the minister, the government’s decision to close the border with Belarus for a month will not be softened, however, he mentioned additional possibilities for those who are subject to exceptions.