Dozens of cars lined up under the clear sky in the Lithuanian town of Shumskas, waiting to cross into Belarus, in a simple trip that residents have taken for years to shop or visit relatives across the border, but it will become more difficult when new restrictions begin to be implemented.
Starting next week, Lithuania will close two of its six crossings with Belarus, including the crossing in Shumskas, in a move that comes amid escalating tensions between Vilnius and Minsk due to fears that the latter will host fighters from the Wagner Group after the failure of their armed rebellion against the Russian military leadership.
The leaders of Lithuania and Poland, which are members of NATO, estimated this week that Minsk, Moscow’s ally, would host about four thousand Wagner fighters. The two countries are discussing a joint decision to completely close their borders with Belarus, for fear that fighters from the group will try to cross them, claiming that they are immigrants, or that they will practice any kind of encroachment.
The new border restrictions will change the nature of movement for travelers who used to cross between Lithuania and Belarus, as they will have to spend additional time at the remaining border points, which they will share with buses and commercial trucks.
And a number of Lithuanians expressed their fear of having to stop crossing the border into Belarus, including Jadwiga, a 73-year-old pensioner, who used to cross on her bicycle more than once a year to buy medicines sold at lower prices.
“They (in Belarus) sell this medicine at a price of one and a half euros, while here (in Lithuania) it costs between 10 and 12 euros,” she told AFP as she waited at the Shumskas border post.
“But I won’t go anymore,” he added.
Go without return
About 230,000 Lithuanians crossed the border into Belarus during the first half of 2023, according to official figures from the Vilnius authorities, despite the political tensions resulting from the Ukraine war, and warnings issued by the authorities to their citizens not to go.
Lithuania found itself in a confusing situation due to several factors, most notably the increase in illegal immigration from Belarus towards the European Union, in addition to Russia’s deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus and the use of its territory to launch strikes targeting Ukraine.
This week, the Lithuanian government put up warning signs at border points that read, “Don’t risk your safety, don’t travel to Belarus. You may not be able to return.”
“By providing refuge to the armed Wagner group, Belarus has become a country that hosts a terrorist organization,” Deputy Foreign Minister Mantas Adominas told reporters. “Serious security challenges have emerged and we must take them into account,” he added.
Officials in Vilnius have warned that Belarus may try to recruit some travelers to its territory for the purposes of espionage, exert psychological pressure on them, or even blackmail Lithuanian citizens by checking their phones or private accounts on social media.
“Every Lithuanian who goes to Belarus must assess the risks, including those related to his health and life,” said Border Guard Commander Rustamas Lyubaivas.
“People will suffer”
But for many Lithuanians who are accustomed to crossing the border, the iron restrictions will only contribute to more anger and frustration.
Sergey, a construction worker who asked not to reveal his full name, used to go to Belarus once a month, stressing that he was never exposed to what his country’s authorities warn of the possibility of happening. “What could happen there? It’s nonsense, it’s laughable,” he told AFP. The man considered that the political tensions are without the slightest benefit for the people.
He added, “Developing friendly relations with our neighbors brings us more benefit, but for some reasons they resort to confrontation. For whose benefit?”
Violeta Bursatović, 33, voiced her opposition to the new measures, but acknowledged that people were unable to do anything to prevent them.
“Ordinary people will suffer. How can we support this if we are going to suffer?” she said.
AFP