Belarus has introduced retaliatory measures to Lithuania’s unfriendly actions to close checkpoints

March 14, MINSK . The Belarusian side has decided to introduce previously announced forced measures in response to the unfriendly actions of the Republic of Lithuania to close  two border checkpoints in 2024 . The Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus dated March 14, 2024 established a ban on the import of certain goods from Lithuania, including food , construction products and household appliances, BELTA reports.

In addition, a separate government decision of March 14 also introduced a ban on the movement through checkpoints on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border of a number of goods imported for sale on the territory of Belarus, regardless of their country of origin.

This list includes used clothing and spare parts for vehicles, as well as tires, alcoholic beverages and other goods. “With the adoption of the latest document, imported goods will be able to enter Belarus only through alternative routes, bypassing the territory of Lithuania. This will negatively affect the work of numerous Lithuanian logistics operators and will lead to a significant loss of their income due to a significant reduction in trade turnover,” the Foreign Ministry said.
The department noted that these prohibitions do not affect goods imported into the territory of Belarus for personal use.

“As for possible claims by representatives of Lithuanian business, they should be addressed to their own authorities, who make decisions that run counter to national interests,” the Foreign Ministry emphasized.

The ministry stated that in a similar vein, the steps of the Latvian government in connection with the introduction of an import embargo on a number of Belarusian food products in 2024 will not go unanswered.

“The counterproductiveness and futility of any sanctions measures directed against Belarus are obvious. Such actions only strengthen the self-isolation of our Baltic neighbors and undermine their already weakening economic potential. We call on Vilnius and Riga to bring more independence, balance and focus on the true interests of their own people into their policies ", the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.