Lithuania declares state of emergency due to balloons coming from Belarus. Increased powers for the military
Undated photo released by the Lithuanian Border Guard Service of an officer inspecting a balloon used to transport cigarettes to Lithuania Photo: State Border Guard Service / AP / Profimedia
Lithuania's government declared a national state of emergency on Tuesday to boost its security after months of smuggling balloons from Belarus disrupting flights and causing chaos in the country's airspace, according to The New York Times and Reuters.
While there did not appear to have been an imminent threat leading to Tuesday's decision, Lithuanian officials accused Belarus of launching at least 599 weather balloons to smuggle cigarettes into Lithuania this year, including in the past week, as well as 197 drones.
Lithuania believes it is a campaign of hybrid attacks by Belarus, a close ally of Russia.
More than 350 flights have been delayed, diverted or canceled since October, affecting about 51,000 passengers and forcing the closure of the airport in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, for more than 60 hours. Financial losses exceeded 750,000 euros, according to officials.
“The state of emergency is announced not only because of civil aviation disruptions, but also because of national security interests,” Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovic explained in a government meeting broadcast live on Tuesday.
The reaction of Belarus
Belarus has denied responsibility for the balloon incidents and accused Lithuania of provocations, including sending a drone with the aim of dropping “extremist material”, a charge Lithuania denies.
Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said on Tuesday that Lithuania was exaggerating the balloon smuggling incidents and that Minsk did not want a war with its neighbours.
“What Lithuanians are saying today is impossible and unrealistic,” Lukashenko said in a speech carried by state news agency Belta. “The issue is exaggerated and politicized,” he added.
The government is asking parliament for increased powers for the army
The Lithuanian government has asked parliament to give the army powers to act in coordination with the police, border authority and security forces during the state of emergency, as well as on its own, the interior minister said.
If parliament gives the green light, the army will be allowed to limit access to certain areas, stop and search vehicles, carry out checks, check documents and assets and detain those who oppose or are suspected of crimes.
The army will have the right to use force in these activities, Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas said. The emergency measures will last until the government lifts them.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on December 1 that the situation at the border was worsening and described the balloon raids as a “hybrid attack” by Belarus that was “completely unacceptable”.
Lithuanian authorities declared a state of emergency again in 2021 in the region bordering Belarus due to what it claimed was a Belarusian campaign to illegally send migrants across the border.
The following year, Vilnius declared a state of emergency in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, fearing that Lithuania could also become a target for Moscow.
