Lithuania to shoot down smuggler balloons, shut Belarus border crossings

"Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene has said Lithuania will start to shoot down smuggler balloons crossing from Belarus and also shut its border crossings with the neighbouring country following repeated interruptions to its air traffic. Today we have decided to take the strictest measures, there is no other way, Ruginiene told a news conference on Monday, saying the crossings will be closed except for travel by diplomats and by European Union citizens leaving Belarus."

"Calling the incidents hybrid attacks, Ruginiene said her cabinet will meet on Wednesday to decide whether to prolong the closure of the Belarus border crossings, the BNS news agency reported. She also said it may also discuss Lithuania invoking NATO Article 4, which states any member country can request a consultation with others whenever it believes its territorial integrity, political independence or security is threatened."

"European aviation has repeatedly been thrown into chaos in recent weeks by drone sightings and other air incursions, including at airports in Copenhagen, Munich and the Baltic region. Lithuania has said balloons are sent by smugglers transporting contraband cigarettes from Belarus into the EU, but the country also blames Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, for not stopping the practice."

Lithuania reports that balloons disrupting air traffic are used by smugglers to transport contraband cigarettes from Belarus into the EU. Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene announced plans to shoot down smuggler balloons and to shut most border crossings with Belarus, leaving exceptions for diplomats and for EU citizens exiting Belarus. Vilnius Airport was closed four times last week after balloons entered its airspace, and border crossings were temporarily shut each time. The government called the incidents hybrid attacks and will consider prolonging the closures and possibly invoking NATO Article 4 for consultations. Belarus has not commented.

Read at www.aljazeera.com