Фото: МИД Литвы
On Sept. 23, Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry handed the chargé d’affaires of Belarus in Lithuania a protest note over the violation of Lithuanian airspace by weather balloons on the night of Sept. 21-22.
Due to the entry of smugglers’ weather balloons, Vilnius Airport was forced to suspend operations for several hours. A number of flights were canceled.
“The ministry stressed that the incident posed a direct threat to the safety of civil aviation. Temporary restrictions on the use of airspace had to be introduced, affecting civil aviation flights and disrupting passengers’ plans.
Lithuania regards this and other similar incidents recorded in recent months as systematic actions of a hybrid nature that pose a threat to national security”, Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry said.
Lithuania is demanding that Belarus immediately take measures to stop such violations, ensure control of the state border and airspace, and take action to combat smuggling.
Lithuania reserves the right to take additional measures to ensure the security of its state border, airspace and civil aviation if similar incidents recur.