Belarus demands EUR 120 per day for parking of Lithuanian trucks. Vilnius will not make any concessions

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday ordered his Foreign Ministry to hold talks with Lithuanian officials in order to fully restore the functioning of border crossings. Advisor to the President of Lithuania, Deividas Matulionis, stated that Vilnius cannot make concessions to Minsk.

About a thousand Lithuanian trucks are stuck near the border with Belarus after Minsk introduced a ban on the movement of trucks and tractors registered in Lithuania and Poland. Lithuania called for the opening of an evacuation corridor. Belarus refused.

According to the Belarusian state agency Belta, on Tuesday Lukashenko instructed Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzhenkov to organize negotiations with Lithuanian officials responsible for the situation on the border.

On the evening of the previous day, Lithuania again asked Minsk to allow Lithuanian trucks to cross the border. The head of the Lithuanian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Władysław Kondratowicz, informed several journalists that there is no response from the Belarusian side yet.

Meanwhile, Deividas Matulionis, advisor to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, stated on Tuesday that Vilnius cannot make concessions to Minsk.

– If Lukashenko had shown even an ounce of good will, this problem would have been solved long ago, within a few days – he told reporters.

On October 31, the Belarusian leader 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 and disrupting traffic at the capital's airport. 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.

On Monday, the Belarusian side announced that Lithuanian trucks standing at the border “in order to ensure safety” will be directed to special parking lots near the previously closed Kotlovka border crossing, and drivers will be able to return home.

According to the Biełta agency, a 24-hour parking lot will cost EUR 120. In case of non-payment, the vehicles are to be confiscated. The parking fee is collected by Beltamozserwis (Beltamozhservice), a Belarusian company subject to EU sanctions.

On Tuesday, Belta announced that 800 vehicles have been placed in parking lots so far, and drivers who complied with the order to move their cars can leave Belarus.

From Vilnius Aleksandra Akińczo (PAP)

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