Lithuanian authorities have observed a significant increase in the number of Belarusian citizens traveling on all PKP routes near the border with Belarus, with the number rising by 50 per cent. This surge in traffic, both in terms of transport and goods, has prompted the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Lithuania to call for a strategic re-evaluation of the management of these movements, including increased focus on technical resources and more comprehensive inspections of individuals, vehicles, and cargo.
In 2023, nearly 3.9 million individuals underwent border checks at road border checkpoints along the state border with Belarus, marking a substantial increase of 25.5 per cent compared to 2022, with 66 per cent of those checked being citizens of Belarus. Conversely, the flow of Lithuanian citizens through all PKPs situated on the border with Belarus dropped by approximately 13.4 per cent, with nearly 62,000 unique individuals recorded, representing a decrease of 17.5 per cent.
In response to the activities of the Belarusian intelligence and security services against Lithuania and the increasing threat of traffic accidents at the border, Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of the National Crisis Management Center of LRVK, highlighted the additional risks posed by the dynamic events. As a result, proposals are being submitted to the government regarding the effectiveness of border control with Belarus.
The National Security Commission of Lithuania has also announced that it is considering closing two more checkpoints on the Lithuanian-Belarusian border as part of a proposal to reduce travel between the neighboring countries, in efforts to mitigate threats from Belarusian and Russian intelligence activities against Lithuania. This decision-making process is part of broader efforts to ensure the safety and security of the border.
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