Lithuania shuts border checkpoints with Belarus amid tensions over Wagner mercenaries

Lithuania, in a move reflecting escalating geopolitical tensions, temporarily sealed off two of its six border checkpoints with Belarus on Wednesday. This step comes as concerns mount over the Wagner mercenary group’s presence, a Russian faction, in Eastern Europe. Lithuania‘s decision mirrors Poland’s earlier action to close its borders with Belarus, triggered by the detainment of a journalist with Polish lineage and the ousting of Polish diplomats.

Tverecius and Sumskas, the two non-commercial crossing points, have been shut down, rerouting traffic to the Medininkai border checkpoint. Just last week, Poland fortified its Belarus border security by deploying an additional 10,000 troops. Deputy Minister of Transport of Lithuania, Agnė Vaiciukeviciūte, highlighted that the temporary suspension, starting August 18, would streamline border control checks at other points.

Historically a fragment of the Soviet Union, Lithuania, which proclaimed its independence about 33 years ago, now aligns with NATO and the European Union. The nation has staunchly backed Ukraine and offers asylum to those escaping authoritative clampdowns in Belarus and intensifying suppression in Russia. Lithuania’s officials have cautioned their Western counterparts about potential threats from Wagner mercenaries, suggesting they might pose as refugees or instigate disruptions involving asylum seekers.

Lithuania’s border control head, Rustamas Liubajevas, estimates that up to 4,500 Wagner troops might be in Belarus, with a significant fraction positioned near Lithuanian and Polish borders. Meanwhile, Latvia, another neighbor, has ramped up its border security in response to increased hybrid threats, which involve Lukashenko’s regime reportedly utilizing migrants as tools in a hybrid warfare strategy against neighboring nations. Recent incidents at the Latvian-Belarusian border include detecting 96 border-crossing attempts and evidence suggesting the Belarusian administration’s role in directing illegal immigrant traffic.