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Lithuania Bans Motorcycle Crossings at Belarus Border After Over 6,000 Breach Attempts

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Amira Barkhush
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Lithuania Bans Motorcycle Crossings at Belarus Border After Over 6,000 Breach Attempts
Lithuanian border post between Lithuania and Poland, near the former border crossing in Ogrodniki-Lazdijai, on July 15, 2023, in Lazdijai, Lithuania. (Source: Getty Images)

Lithuania is tightening security along its state border and introducing new restrictions at border checkpoints in response to provocations by Belarus, the Lithuanian government posted a statement on its official website on April 16.

The Cabinet has approved a proposal from the Ministry of the Interior that imposes new limitations at certain checkpoints. The move comes amid growing threats to national security linked to illegal migration, as well as a shift in tactics by Belarusian intelligence and border services.

Under the new regulations, crossing the border from Belarus by motorcycle, moped, or motorized bicycle will be prohibited at the Šalčininkai and Medininkai checkpoints. These crossings will now only be accessible to vehicles.

According to the Lithuanian government, since March 1, 2024, after the ban on pedestrians and cyclists passing through the Medininkai and Šalčininkai border checkpoints, a significant increase in attempts to cross the border on motorcycles, mopeds and motorized bicycles has been recorded. In the first quarter of 2024, 285 such cases were recorded; in 2025, 6,170 cases were already detected during the same period.

“Our goal is to ensure maximum protection of the state border and prevent threats posed by the Belarusian regime’s artificially organized migration and possible hybrid attacks on the border with Belarus. The new restrictions adopted by the government will also help reduce the influence of Belarusian intelligence and security services and the ability to recruit Lithuanian and Belarusian citizens,” said Minister of the Interior Vladislav Kondratovič.

Currently, Lithuania applies complex state border protection measures, a physical barrier has been built on the border with Belarus, the state border is monitored by modern surveillance systems, and rapid response to incidents is carried out. Due to these measures, there is essentially no possibility of illegally entering the territory of the Republic of Lithuania through the green border.

On April 15, it was reported that Director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergey Naryshkin, issued a warning to Poland and the Baltic states, stating they would be among the first to suffer in the event of a NATO confrontation with the so-called Union State of Russia and Belarus.

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