Lithuania closes border with Belarus for 1 month

MINSK. Oct 29 (Interfax) - The Lithuanian government decided to close the border with Belarus until late November at a meeting on Wednesday, Lithuanian media outlets said.

"The Salcininkai-Benyakoni border crossing point is closing completely in accordance with the decision of the cabinet of ministers," the press said.

"Admission through the Medininkai-Kamenny Log checkpoint is restricted. The ban on crossing through this checkpoint does not apply to diplomats, diplomatic mail, citizens using a facilitated transit document, citizens of Lithuania returning home and members of their families, as well as citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area, and the NATO member states and members of their families entering Lithuania, foreigners returning to the country possessing a valid permit in Lithuania, as well as foreign citizens possessing humanitarian visas," the press said.

The decision will be in effect until November 30, after which the Lithuanian government is to decide on extending the closure, it said.

The Lithuanian-Belarusian border has been closed since the early hours of Monday due to the latest airspace incident. It was announced that the government would make a decision on the duration of this closure on Wednesday.

Last week, Lithuania suspended admission through checkpoints on the border with Belarus three times as its services recorded weather balloons with contraband coming from the Belarusian territory. The Vilnius airport also halted operations. Protest notes were issued to the Belarusian charge d'affaires ad interim in Lithuania over these incidents. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said he was considering the long-term closure of the border with Belarus.