Losses counted in millions of euros. Belarus does not want to release Lithuanian trucks

About 70 trucks were placed on Wednesday along the central street of Vilnius, Gediminas Avenue and near the Lithuanian Parliament to draw the attention of the country's authorities to the problem of Lithuanian trucks that have been blocked by the Belarusian authorities for a month.

The protesters demand that the Lithuanian authorities announce a specific action plan within 72 hours regarding how to recover the trucks, as well as how to compensate for the losses incurred.

According to the president of the National Association of Carriers “Linava” Erlandas Mikenas in Belarus about 4,000 were stuck. Lithuanian trucks and semi-trailers, and the losses are estimated in millions of euros.

October 30 Lithuanian authorities closed the border with Belarus for a month in response to increasing incidents involving smuggling balloons entering Lithuanian airspace from Belarus. In response to the decision of the Lithuanian government, on October 31, the authorities in Minsk banned the traffic of Lithuanian trucks and tractors on the territory of Belarus. On November 20, earlier than announced, Lithuania opened two closed border crossings, but Belarus blocked the return of Lithuanian trucks home.

In the current situation, Belarus demands consultations at the level of foreign ministries. The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not agree to this, because – as foreign minister Kestutis Budrys emphasizes – it could pave the way for Minsk to break out from international political isolation.

Trucks stuck in Belarus were placed in special parking lots. A daily parking fee of EUR 120 is charged. Belarus also announced that after four months, in accordance with the law, the cars will be confiscated.

In the event of confiscation of trucks, Lithuanian opposition parties propose to pay carriers compensation for Belarusian assets frozen in Lithuania and recall that the most famous Belarusian property in the country is the “Biełarus” sanatorium in Druskininkai, whose value is approximately EUR 3 million.

From Vilnius Aleksandra Akińczo (PAP)

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