MINSK, 10 November (BelTA) – Erlandas Mikėnas, the head of the Lithuanian Association of Road Carriers (LINAVA), stated that Lithuanian carriers will suffer enormous losses due to the border situation initiated by Vilnius, Lithuanian media report.

According to Erlandas Mikėnas, the owners of the parking areas where Lithuanian vehicles are currently stationed will need to be paid. “By the time we [the Lithuanian side] open the border and we can leave there, we will accrue huge amounts and it will simply be unprofitable to retrieve the vehicles,” he said.

For his part, LINAVA Vice President Oleg Tarasov stated that Lithuanian officials had previously cleared very few trucks through the Medininkai checkpoint, and now traffic has been completely stopped: not a single vehicle can pass through the Lithuanian border. “Our customs officers couldn’t even clear 600 trucks through Medininkai in eight days. The checkpoints are closed. Why couldn’t all staff be quickly reassigned to work at Medininkai?” he asked a question.

As Oleg Tarasov noted, all the drivers of the stranded trucks will now have to be sent on leave and wait to see how the situation develops.

Meanwhile, Baltnews reported that Lithuanian Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovich stated that Lithuania will not open the border.

Earlier, LINAVA representatives had called on the Lithuanian government to present a clear action plan and take measures as soon as possible to help ensure the return of Lithuanian vehicles and the safety of drivers. In a letter to Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingė Ruginienė LINAVA stated that the current situation poses a serious threat to numerous jobs and the stability of the entire transport sector. The letter indicated that at least 35,000 Lithuanian citizens would be affected by the closure of the border with Belarus.

On 29 October 2025 the government of the Republic of Lithuania adopted a resolution restricting and suspending traffic across the state border of the Republic of Lithuania. The document imposed restrictions on the movement of individuals and vehicles through the Medininkai (Kamenny Log) checkpoint until 1.00 Belarusian time on 1 December. The processing of individuals and vehicles at the Lithuanian Šalčininkai (Benyakoni) checkpoint has been completely suspended.

 In a statement on the border situation on 10 November, the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Lithuanian trucks accumulated on the approaches to the Kamenny Log and Benyakoni checkpoints will be moved to special parking areas near Kotlovka for their safety and security. For humanitarian reasons, drivers have been given the opportunity to leave Belarus and return to their permanent places of residence until the Lithuanian side decides to fully reopen the border. “We are ready to provide the necessary assistance to those drivers who, for one reason or another, are unable to leave Belarus,” the ministry noted.

 In a move to manage freight traffic, Belarus’ State Border Committee temporarily suspended the exit of all trucks with Lithuanian plates as from 9.00 in the morning on 10 November. The border service is monitoring the situation and stands ready to respond to any changes. Belarus’ State Customs Committee has stated that the Lithuanian trucks will be able to leave the parking areas once Lithuania reopens the border.

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