TALLINN, Estonia (AP) 鈥� The authoritarian leader of Belarus threatened Monday to seize over 1,000 Lithuanian trucks stranded in his country following with Lithuania in recent weeks after repeated incursions by weather balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes.
Lithuania, a NATO and European Union member, closed the two border crossings with Belarus on Oct. 29 after the meteorological balloons flying from Belarus caused repeated at the airport in Lithuania’s capital of Vilnius. The border will remain closed until at least the end of November.
Lithuanian officials cast the flight disruptions as part of anti-Western activities by Russia-allied Belarus intended to undermine stability. Lithuania borders Belarus as well as Russia鈥檚 Kaliningrad exclave.
Belarus President denounced Lithuania鈥檚 move to close the border as a 鈥渕ad scam鈥� and part of a 鈥渉ybrid war鈥� against his country. He suggested that Vilnius itself needs to combat smuggling of contraband.
The Belarusian authorities have refused to open a corridor exclusively to evacuate the stranded Lithuanian trucks, demanding that Lithuania fully reopen the border.
Lukashenko said Monday that up to 1,200 Lithuanian trucks were stranded in Belarus because of the closed border, and he warned that Belarusian authorities could seize them if Lithuania fails to reopen it.
鈥淚f they don’t do it in the next few days, we will make a decision in accordance with our law,鈥� he said. 鈥淯p to the confiscation of the vehicles.鈥�
Lukashenko said the trucks were moved to paid parking areas. 鈥淭hey can’t just loiter on the roads — 1,100 or 1,200 big trucks,鈥� he said.
Erlandas Mik臈nas of the Lithuanian National Road Carriers鈥� Association said in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that the drivers who were stranded with their vehicles felt increasingly 鈥渢ired and angry,” and some cargo could get spoiled.
The tensions come as Europe is on high alert after drone reached an unprecedented scale since September. Some European officials described the incidents as Moscow testing NATO鈥檚 response.
Lukashenko noted that Belarusian authorities would raise the Lithuanian border closure in their contacts with Washington.
In August, Lukashenko spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump that sparked speculation of a possible thaw in relations. The following month, Lukashenko pardoned 52 political prisoners as part of a U.S.-brokered deal that eased sanctions on Belarus’ national carrier Belavia, including the resumption of parts supplies and aircraft servicing.
Trump announced Sunday that John Coale, who helped broker the deal, was being nominated as the U.S. special envoy to Belarus and would work on negotiating the release of more prisoners.
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