Lithuanian Democratic Union “For Lithuania” leader and former prime minister Saulius Skvernelis has suggested using Belarusian assets to compensate Lithuanian transport companies for trucks that may be seized in Belarus.
“We need to conduct an inventory, determine how many tractor units are being held hostage, because the situation is not as it is being presented — we are talking about a different number. And (…) we simply need to accept that they will be lost or possibly lost, and compensation will have to be paid to the hauliers. But not from the Lithuanian budget — from Belarusian assets in Lithuania,” Skvernelis told Delfi.
According to the politician, Lithuania must prepare for such a scenario. His party is not part of the ruling coalition.
“No one prevents us from initiating legal procedures, using interim protective measures — for example, when it comes to the sanatorium in Druskininkai. We could assess the property, list it with the help of collectors and prepare it for sale if compensation has to be paid,” he added.
Skvernelis believes the Lithuanian government should make clear to Minsk that asymmetric measures will be applied.
“If the tractor units are confiscated, then asymmetric measures will be taken in Lithuania. The other side must understand this,” he said.
The comments come amid an escalating dispute: Lithuania has been reacting to waves of contraband-carrying meteorological balloons coming from Belarus, which have repeatedly forced temporary closures of Vilnius Airport. The Lithuanian government has already shut the border with Belarus in response, and may impose a state of emergency this week. Lithuania is also lobbying for new EU sanctions against Minsk, and some politicians have suggested additional steps such as ending bus services between the two countries.
