Sat on a Concrete Block — Lithuania Accuses Belarusian Border Guard of Illegal Border Crossing

Lithuania’s State Border Guard Service says a Belarusian border guard illegally crossed the Belarusian-Lithuanian border, stepped about one meter into Lithuanian territory, and then returned to Belarus.

The incident took place near the closed “Krakūnai–Geranainys” border checkpoint in the Šalčininkai district. The area is located near the so-called Dieveniškės Loop, a part of Lithuania surrounded on all sides by Belarus.

On Wednesday, April 15, four armed Belarusian servicemen were patrolling the area. On the road connecting the two countries, the border line is marked with a white stripe. There is also a post marking the border line, with state border signs placed on both sides.

Lithuanian border guards recorded the Belarusian officers approaching the “Krakūnai–Geranainys” checkpoint and the road while staying on their side of the border.

“Then one of them crossed the border line on the road and stepped about one meter into Lithuania. The border guard sat down on one of the concrete blocks that had been placed on the Lithuanian side to block the road. Shortly afterward, he returned and continued patrolling Belarusian territory together with the other three officers,” the Lithuanian border service said.

Lithuania’s State Border Guard Service has launched a pre-trial investigation into the illegal crossing of the state border.