Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said the measure, formally termed an “extreme situation,” does not restrict civil liberties. “The public will not feel any inconvenience,” she said, adding that the designation will help an investigative task force address the balloon incursions.
The task force includes border guards, police, customs officials and financial investigators. Authorities say the legal status allows them to activate mechanisms needed to counter the balloon launches, which they attribute to cigarette smugglers operating from Belarus.
The government also submitted a resolution to parliament granting soldiers temporary powers to support law enforcement. If approved, troops would be able to issue mandatory orders, pursue and detain individuals who disobey, check documents and inspect vehicles. The authority would remain in place for three months.
Interior Minister Władysław Kondratowicz, responsible for coordinating the emergency response, said no end date has been set. “We do not foresee when it will expire, but I think we will return to the issue in a month,” he said.
Lithuania has recorded about 600 balloon incursions and 197 drone incursions this year, according to the Interior Ministry. Vilnius Airport was forced to shut down several times in October and November due to balloon activity, affecting more than 320 flights and over 45,000 passengers.
Authorities say Belarusian smugglers are launching the balloons and accuse Minsk of allowing the activity to continue. The Lithuanian government considers the incidents hybrid attacks, and Ruginiene said last week they could also be viewed as acts of terror.
(jh)
Source: PAP, IAR