Pavel Latushka, deputy leader in the exiled cabinet of opposition figure Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, told Polskie Radio 24 that Lukashenko has effectively issued an ultimatum to Lithuania and is using hybrid tactics—including airspace violations with balloons and economic blackmail—to destabilize the region.
Since late October, Belarus has detained hundreds of Lithuanian cargo trucks in retaliation for Lithuania’s temporary border closure following a series of unauthorized balloon incursions from Belarus. Although Lithuania reopened the border on November 20, the trucks remain blocked. Drivers report being charged EUR 120 per day in “parking fees.”
Lukashenko has linked the return of the trucks to a series of demands, including the release of 20 vehicles under EU sanctions, restoration of a Belarusian sanatorium in Lithuania, and reimbursement for Belarus’ investment in a Lithuanian port terminal in Klaipeda.
“If the European Union fails to respond, Lukashenko will continue issuing ultimatums to other countries,” Latushka warned, calling the move part of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s broader strategy.
Lithuania declared a state of emergency on December 9 over continued balloon activity, which officials say poses a national security threat. More than 600 balloons have reportedly crossed into Lithuanian airspace since October, some allegedly carrying smuggled goods. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said the government is considering freezing Belarusian assets on its territory in response.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the EU is preparing new sanctions against the Belarusian regime. Meanwhile, Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene urged the U.S. to assist in securing the release of the seized trucks and labeled the balloon incidents “acts of terrorism.”
Former Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius described Belarus’ actions as hybrid warfare, and Nausėda stressed the balloons are difficult to intercept due to their speed and trajectory.
Lukashenko has also publicly expressed anger at the Belarusian opposition’s “alternative government” hosted in Lithuania and Poland, suggesting it is a threat to his rule. According to opposition sources, security funding for Tsikhanouskaya’s cabinet has reportedly stalled, potentially due to Belarusian pressure on Lithuanian authorities. Some reports suggest the opposition may consider relocating to Warsaw.
In response, Lithuania has filed legal actions against Belarus at both the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, citing crimes against humanity and the orchestrated 2021–2022 migration crisis.
(jh)
Source: Polskie Radio 24