Belarus Considers Lithuania A Small European Country To Respond To Smuggled Cigarette Balloons

Illustration of soldiers or the military carrying out security. (UNSPLASH-Simon Infanger)

JAKARTA - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko considers Lithuania to be too exaggerated by the incident of the entry of dozens of helium balloons containing smuggled cigarettes.

According to Lukashenko, Lituania's "absurd" and "crazy gambling" reactions as a small European Union (EU) followed the entry of the balloons from Belarus.

"Even for small countries, Lithuania, it was a minor incident," he said at the 3rd Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security on Tuesday local time, quoted from the Belarusian government news agency, BeltA, via TVP World, Wednesday.

"We are not talking about extraordinary smuggling," he continued.

Lithuanian media, LRT reported, Lithuania closed Vilnius Airport four times last week after smugglers using the helium balloon mode of transportation tried to get illegal cigarettes from Belarus into Lithuania.

Lithuania also temporarily closed its border with Belarus along the 680 kilometers related to the incident. The border route can still be accessed by diplomats.

Only border gates from Belarus can be crossed by Lithuanians and the European Union, as well as Lituanian residence permits holders.

Lithuania's State Border Guard Service also said certain trucks were excluded from the prohibition of crossing the borders of the two countries.

Meanwhile, Lithuanian officials did not respond when asked if the railway line from and to Belarus would be affected by the border closure.

Inga Ruginien Prime Minister said that the border closure until an undetermined deadline "sends a clear signal to Belarus that no 'hybrid attack' can be tolerated, and we will take as strict a measure as possible to stop such action."