Discussions are intensifying in Lithuania over restricting or fully banning bus service with Belarus. The debate is driven by concerns over detentions, recruitment attempts and the use of foreigners by the Belarusian regime for propaganda purposes, Delfi reports.
At present, at least 12 buses depart daily from Vilnius to Minsk. Despite official warnings, many passengers continue traveling to Belarus. Lithuanian Transport Minister Eugenijus Sabutis does not currently see a need for a complete ban. According to him, the number of routes has already been reduced by nearly half, and that is sufficient to control the situation.
“As long as the relevant services do not recommend other measures, we see no reason to restrict people’s freedom of movement,” he said.
Meanwhile, Liberal leader Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen stated that Belarus uses people as political hostages, recalling repeated detentions of foreign citizens and their use in propaganda.
Lithuanian conservative leader Laurynas Kasčiūnas called on the Baltic states to act in coordination.
“If Latvia tightens restrictions while Lithuania does not, we could become the weak link,” he believes.
It should be recalled that Latvia’s Ministry of Transport has drafted amendments providing for a complete ban on regular passenger bus services to Russia and Belarus, citing the need to protect citizens from threats posed by authoritarian regimes.
