Tsikhanouskaya Backs Lithuania’s Urgent Border Closure Amid Hybrid Attacks

UPDATE: Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has publicly supported Lithuania’s recent decision to extend its border closure with Belarus until November 30, 2023, amid escalating tensions marked by what officials describe as “hybrid attacks.” In an exclusive interview with Euronews, Tsikhanouskaya emphasized the necessity of this measure as a response to ongoing provocations from both the Belarusian and Russian authorities.

The closure was announced earlier this week after Lithuania identified numerous violations of its airspace involving balloons allegedly used to smuggle cigarettes. Lithuanian officials reported that these balloons entered its skies multiple times this month, disrupting airport operations and prompting law enforcement to arrest several suspected smugglers, incurring fines totaling thousands of euros.

“We fully understand why the borders are closed by Lithuania,” Tsikhanouskaya stated, highlighting that the actions taken are crucial for national security. “All these attacks and interference into airspace have to have consequences for the Lukashenka regime.” The opposition leader, currently living in exile in Lithuania, described the current situation as a “hybrid attack” involving various means, including migration crises and aerial incursions.

Officials in Vilnius have characterized the balloon incursions as part of a broader strategy by Belarus, with Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, asserting that these incidents are not isolated but part of a targeted hybrid campaign. “These balloons are not merely smuggling tools,” Kallas stated, further supporting the need for a unified European response.

In a show of solidarity, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, condemned the incursions, reinforcing that Europe stands firmly with Lithuania. “This is a hybrid threat,” she declared, calling for coordinated efforts to counteract Belarusian aggression.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, Kęstutis Budrys, echoed these sentiments, stating that defending Europe’s eastern flank is now an existential question, especially following the recent airspace violations that have put neighboring Baltic states and Poland on high alert. Earlier in the month, NATO initiated Operation Eastern Sentry to strengthen air defenses in response to such threats.

Despite the heightened tensions, Tsikhanouskaya urged Lithuania to not lose sight of the plight of ordinary Belarusians seeking refuge. “The only thing that we are asking is to let Belarusian people, law-abiding people, cross the borders,” she emphasized, highlighting the dire situation for those fleeing repression under Lukashenka’s regime.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenka has dismissed Lithuania’s border measures as a “crazy scam,” accusing the West of conducting a hybrid war against both Belarus and Russia. However, Tsikhanouskaya warned that such provocations are intended to test European resolve, with Lukashenka seeking legitimacy and normalcy on the international stage.

As the situation develops, observers urge the EU to remain united and principled in confronting the challenges posed by both Minsk and Moscow. “Europe has to respond with all the brutality they can — economic sanctions, political isolation, diplomatic efforts,” Tsikhanouskaya concluded, calling for a robust response against the regime. The stakes have never been higher, as the EU grapples with the implications of Belarus’ actions on regional stability.

For ongoing updates, stay tuned as the situation continues to unfold.