Lithuania Tightens Transit Restrictions to Kaliningrad Amid Security Concerns
Lithuania is considering implementing significant measures to restrict transit to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad following recent events that have raised alarms.
President Gitanas Nausėda proposes to temporarily close the border with Belarus for an extended period and impose additional restrictions on movement through the border, citing reports of possible smuggling and attempts to destabilize the situation.
On the night of October 26, Lithuanian authorities decided to close several border checkpoints after detecting meteorological sondes suspected of carrying smuggled cigarettes, which could be used in smuggling operations.
The Vilnius airport has also been temporarily shut down.
These actions are seen as responses to a series of incidents, which Lithuanian security services assess as hybrid attacks aimed at destabilizing the country.
In the coming days, the government plans to propose responses, including the possibility of a long-term border closure.
On Monday, a National Security Commission meeting will be held to discuss further measures and strategies to address the escalating tension in the region, which many experts view as a threat to regional stability.