Lithuania considers suspending passenger routes to Russia, Belarus

ISTANBUL

Lithuania is weighing whether to suspend regular passenger routes to Russia and Belarus, the interior minister said Monday, citing heightened security risks linked to Belarusian activity along the border.

“This could be one of the measures,” Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovic told BNS, stressing that the government must assess whether such a step would meaningfully pressure the Belarusian regime or simply escalate hostility toward the EU.

“I believe it is definitely worth considering; we will have to see how this develops,” he said, adding that the issue will be discussed with Latvian and Polish counterparts during meetings in Brussels this week.

He emphasized that any decision should be coordinated regionally, LRT news reported.

Latvia’s Transport Ministry is already drafting a resolution to suspend regular passenger services to both countries. Transport Minister Atis Svinka said the proposal stems from security concerns and could be revisited if conditions change. Under the plan, bus services would be halted and carrier permits revoked or allowed to expire.

Lithuania currently has 24 regular routes with Belarus, with around 25 daily departures in each direction, according to the Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration.

The debate comes as Lithuania intensifies efforts to counter cigarette smuggling from Belarus using weather balloons. The government temporarily closed the Belarusian border in late October and is now considering declaring a national-level emergency.

Authorities say 599 smuggling balloons and 197 drones have entered Lithuanian airspace so far this year, disrupting 320 flights, affecting 47,000 passengers, and leading to nearly 60 hours of airport closures at Vilnius and Kaunas airports.

The interior minister said the balloon threat will remain a key factor in upcoming discussions with regional partners.