28.02.2023
The Lithuanian State Border Guard Service has unilaterally stopped providing an uninterrupted flow of transport across the border with Belarus. This was reported in the Border Committee of Belarus. Vilnius does not explain the reasons for this decision. Experts believe that this step may have a hidden motive.
All six road corridors between Belarus and Lithuania are still in operation. But such restrictions will complicate cargo transportation between states.
Lithuania's actions will significantly limit the flow of goods between the two states. Thus, only one railway border crossing of Gudogai-Kyana will remain between Lithuania and Belarus.
This decision may also have a negative impact on cargo flows from Russia and Belarus to the Kaliningrad region, which were partially restricted last summer.
Alexey Lipatov, Executive Director of ACEX, commented on the situation:
"Lithuania renounces the provisions adopted in the document that was signed on November 4, 2019. The document provided for ensuring an uninterrupted flow of transport across the border and increasing the capacity of road checkpoints. However, the pandemic and the strengthening of sanctions largely prevented the full implementation of this document."
In his opinion, Lithuania's decision will in any case have a negative impact on the speed of crossing the border, up to stopping the work of the crossing, temporarily or permanently. "Although at the moment we are not talking about a complete closure, this does not give any guarantees for the future," Lipatov points out.
One of the two railway checkpoints between the countries (Benyakoni-Stasilos) is being closed by the end of 2024, he adds. "Against the background of restrictions on the transit of goods by road, this looks suspicious," the expert states. In his opinion, such restrictions may also be aimed at complicating the situation of the Kaliningrad Region, some of the cargo to which comes in transit through Lithuania.
Source: Rossiyskaya Gazeta
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