By Goda Malinauskaitė, Evaldas Labanauskas, LRT TV, LRT.lt.
As Lithuanian trucking companies prepare a protest in Vilnius over thousands of vehicles stranded at the Belarus border, Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė said the demonstration should be held in Belarus – the country she says launched a hybrid attack against Lithuania using contraband balloons.
The leader of the Farmers and Greens Union, Aurelijus Veryga, has called for declaring an emergency in response to the ongoing balloon incursions.
President Gitanas Nausėda, meanwhile, said Lithuania is taking political steps to counter Belarus’ actions, while the European Commission plans to increase pressure on Minsk. Some analysts say the government’s response so far has been chaotic.
Police intercepted two more contraband balloons in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 17 in just over a week. Beginning Wednesday, Lithuanian troops are assisting police in responding to the continuing balloon crisis.
“All institutions are on high alert today,” Ruginienė said. “Everyone understands these balloons are both contraband and a hybrid attack – two reasons why they are flying.”
Read more: LRT.LT
