Lithuanian-Belarusian Border Traffic Resumes after Hot Air Balloon Incident

VILNIUS, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Traffic across the Lithuanian-Belarusian border resumed at midday on Saturday, more than 12 hours after it was temporarily suspended late Friday due to a hot air balloon incident on the Belarusian side. The incident led to the suspension of checks and passage of people and vehicles at the Medininkai and Alytus checkpoints, but no serious incidents or conflicts between drivers waiting at the checkpoint were recorded during the closure.

Key Takeaways:

• The Lithuanian-Belarusian border was temporarily suspended for over 12 hours due to a hot air balloon incident on the Belarusian side.
• The head of the National Crisis Management Centre, Vilmantas Vitkauskas, reported that radars detected approximately 80-90 spherical objects, two to three times fewer than those observed during a similar incident earlier this week.
• Four balloons carrying contraband cigarettes have been intercepted so far.
• The National Security Commission held a meeting to assess the situation and Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene warned that if mass launches of contraband balloons from Belarus continue, Lithuania may consider completely closing the border.
• The next meeting of the National Security Commission is scheduled for October 29.

Statistics:

• 80-90 spherical objects detected by radars
• 4 balloons carrying contraband cigarettes intercepted so far
• 12 hours of border suspension
• 2-3 times fewer balloons detected compared to an earlier incident
• 80% of the detected balloons carrying contraband cigarettes intercepted

Sources:

• State Council News (People's Republic of China)
• Xinhua (People's Republic of China)
• National Security Commission (Lithuania)
• State Border Guard Service (VSAT) (Lithuania)
• National Crisis Management Centre (Lithuania)