Despite Lithuania opening the border crossing points at midnight on Thursday, Belarus is not releasing Lithuanian trucks from special parking lots and is demanding a meeting between representatives of the foreign ministries of Vilnius and Minsk, says the president of the Lithuanian National Association of Road Carriers Linava, Erlandas Mikenas.
“I received information that the Belarusian side is demanding a meeting, consultations at the level of the foreign ministries. I have a copy of the letter requesting consultations at the level of the foreign ministries,” said Mikenas to LRT radio on Thursday afternoon.
“In my opinion, this is racketeering,” he said.
According to the head of Linava, Minsk has not yet issued an order to allow the release of Lithuanian trucks, but carriers from Uzbekistan are somehow passing through.
Earlier on Thursday, Mikenas informed BNS that, according to preliminary information, the trucks were supposed to depart at 8:00 AM Lithuanian time, but this did not happen. According to him, several trucks entered Lithuania through Šalčininkai, but most are still not being allowed through.
The Secretary General of the International Transport and Logistics Alliance (TTLA), Povilas Drizhas, said that, according to his information, representatives from Minsk are still deciding how to release Lithuanian transport from the parking lots and allow it to pass through Belarusian territory.
On Wednesday, the cabinet of ministers decided to open the border with Belarus 10 days earlier than planned. The operation of the border crossing points “Medininkai” and “Šalčininkai” resumed at midnight on Thursday.
In response to Lithuania's border closure, Minsk prohibited Lithuanian trucks that are on Belarusian territory from entering the country until the border is opened. Until that moment, most of them were moved to special areas where a fee of 120 euros per day is charged for each parked truck or semi-trailer, and in case of non-payment, the vehicles risk confiscation.
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