— The border crossing in Soleczniki remains closed, but the government is still looking for ways to help Lithuanian carriers, said Dobrovolskas, who was quoted by Lithuanian media.
The Lithuanian government appeals to carriers to collect information about the damage suffered, which could be recovered from Belarus after assessing legal options. According to Oleg Tarasovas, vice-president of the National Association of Road Carriers Linava, the costs of parking vehicles in Belarus last week alone amounted to approximately EUR 5 million.
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Why did Belarus refuse to open the evacuation corridor?
What traffic restrictions did Lukashenko introduce?
When does Poland plan to open border crossings with Belarus?
What are the current active border crossings with Belarus?
Polish trucks banned from driving in Belarus. Lukashenko issued a decree
On October 31, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko issued a decree banning the movement of trucks and tractors registered in Lithuania and Poland on the territory of Belarus. The restrictions are to apply until December 31, 2027.
Lithuanian media emphasize that this is a reaction to the decisions of Lithuania and Poland to close the border with Belarus. Lithuania closed its border a few weeks ago due to increasing incidents involving meteorological and smuggling balloons entering Lithuanian airspace from Belarus. The suspension of Vilnius airport operations affected over 20,000 people. passengers and over 140 flights.
According to the decision of the Lithuanian government, the Soleczniki-Bieniakonie border crossing was completely closed until November 30. Traffic at the Mediniki-Kamienny Łog border crossing is limited. It can be used by diplomats, diplomatic mail, people traveling with a simplified transit document, Lithuanian citizens returning to the country and citizens of EU, European Economic Area, NATO countries and their family members coming to Lithuania.
According to the regulation of the Vilnius authorities, about 200 trucks can pass through the border in Mediniki a day. In practice, only a few dozen exceed them.
According to Dobrovolskas, due to the Belarusian side's refusal to open the evacuation corridor, a long-term restriction on the transport of Belarusian goods by rail through Lithuania is being considered.
When will Poland open the crossings? Unclear date
The spokesman for the Polish government, Adam Szłapka, told PAP last Thursday that Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene agreed that Poland would open its border crossings with Belarus “around mid-November.” On Tuesday, Prime Minister Tusk announced that in November the government would be ready to open two border crossings with Belarus: in Bobrowniki and Kuźnica. He then noted that the opening would be “on a trial basis” after consultations with Lithuania.
The Polish-Belarusian road border crossing in Kuźnica was closed on November 9, 2021, after Belarus, with the participation of migrants, carried out an attack on this crossing. From February 9, 2023, the crossing in Bobrowniki is closed. They were closed after the Belarusian regime sentenced an activist of the Union of Poles in Belarus, journalist Andrzej Poczobut. The crossing in Połowce has been closed since the pandemic. Currently, only railway crossings in Kuźnica and Siemianówka are open, through which only freight traffic passes.
