Overview
- Lithuania has suspended road freight crossings with Belarus through 30 November, with a possible extension, citing incidents involving meteorological balloons carrying contraband.
- Belarus responded with a government decree signed by the prime minister that restricts movement of Lithuanian-registered freight trucks, trailers and semi-trailers on the shared border.
- The Belarusian State Customs Committee argued that Lithuanian authorities underestimate the financial damage and contract breaches the closure will cause for Lithuanian enterprises.
- Linava vice-president Oleg Tarasov estimated Lithuania’s logistics sector stands to lose about €1 billion in annual revenue under the current suspension.
- Belarusian authorities reported nearly 5,000 Lithuanian tractors and trailers stranded in Belarus, while Linava put the value of the immobilized vehicles at roughly €60 million.