Lithuania to close 2 more border crossings with Belarus: Government

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON (AA) - Lithuania approved the closure of two more border checkpoints with Belarus beginning March 1, the government confirmed Wednesday.

"On February 21, the government approved the closure of two checkpoints on the border with Belarus - Raigardas and Lavoryshkės. They will be closed from March 1, 2024," it said in a statement.

It means only two out of six points on the border will remain open after the Sumskas and Tverecius checkpoints were closed in August with Lithuanian authorities at the time citing possible threats from mercenaries of the Russian private military company, Wagner.

After the two points close it will be impossible to make pedestrians or vehicles to move across the two checkpoints, according to the government.

Earlier this month, Lithuanian National Security Commission called for the closure of the two points with Belarus to help tackle national security problems, smuggling and violations of international sanctions imposed on Russia.

Finland, the Baltic states and Poland have all reduced the number of border checkpoints from Belarus and Russia in a response to Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Finnish authorities have accused Moscow of carrying out a suspected "hybrid attack" and purposefully assisting undocumented migrants to cross into the Nordic country -- a charge which Russia has denied.

Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometer (832-mile) border with Russia, has eight border crossings which it closed in December and will remain shut until at least mid-April, according to authorities.