Lithuania declares state of emergency over balloons carrying contraband from Belarus
The Lithuanian government has declared a state of emergency throughout the country due to a crisis involving balloons launched from Belarus carrying contraband. The decision was made after a series of incidents that threatened civil aviation and national security interests. This was reported by The Public with reference to LRT.
Minister of Internal Affairs Vladislav Kondratovich was appointed head of state operations during the state of emergency. The Ministry emphasises that the regime will not cause inconvenience to the population, as the measures applied will be targeted and aimed only at the organisers of illegal activities.
According to the ministry, the launches of balloons from Belarusian territory regularly disrupted the operation of Vilnius Airport. This led to the suspension of passenger and cargo transportation, causing financial losses and reputational risks for the state. The state of emergency is intended to strengthen coordination between services and allow the involvement of military units if necessary.
Police Commissioner General Arturas Paulauskas said the decision would help to more effectively prevent and investigate crimes related to air smuggling. In recent months, Vilnius Airport has been repeatedly suspended due to the threat posed by the balloons.
The problem has become part of a so-called hybrid attack by Belarus. The issue has been considered at the national level and discussed in international forums.
