Lithuania closes border with Belarus due to increase in balloon invasions
Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said on Monday that her country would begin shooting down smuggler balloons crossing the country’s border with Belarus, Reuters reports.
These balloons have repeatedly disrupted the air traffic of this Baltic country.
NATO member Lithuania closed Vilnius airport four times last week after balloons invaded its airspace, and each time temporarily closed border crossings with Belarus in response to these incidents.
Lithuania said the balloons were sent by smugglers carrying contraband cigarettes, but also accused Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenka, a close ally of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, of failing to stop the practice.
Ruginiene called these incidents “hybrid attacks” and said that border crossings with Belarus would be closed, except for travel by diplomats and EU citizens leaving the neighboring country.
She added that her government could also discuss holding security consultations under Article 4 of the NATO Charter.
Նյութերը գեներացվում են տարբեր կայքերից արհեստական բանականության միջոցով
