Миндаугас Синкявичюс. Фото: канцелярия Сейма Литвы
Lithuania plans to extend heightened controls on its border with Russia’s Kaliningrad region until the end of November, Elta reports. A final decision will be made based on recommendations from the military, Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said.
According to him, the possibility of extending the heightened controls has already been discussed with Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas.
“There have been discussions with Lithuania’s defence minister. The minister will apparently rely on proposals from the army. The issue was extending the controls until the end of November, but the defence minister can probably comment on whether this is necessary. The decision itself will depend not on political will but on the military council,” Sinkevičius said.
Currently, Lithuanian border guards are receiving assistance from military personnel along the border with the Kaliningrad region. The defence minister previously said that the authorities were considering extending the army’s involvement in border protection.
Heightened controls along this section of the border were introduced in October and subsequently extended until mid-November. As Lithuanian Interior Minister Martynas Katelynas previously explained, the decision was partly linked to an incident on the Latvia-Belarus border, where a group of migrants accompanied by armed individuals attempted to cross the border illegally. In addition, increased border security is being considered as a preventive measure amid concerns about possible mobilisation in Russia following the elections.
According to Lithuania’s Interior Ministry, up to 100 military personnel are assisting border guards in protecting the border with the Kaliningrad region.