Belarus–Lithuania border

Belarus–Lithuania border
  • Border barrier built by Lithuania in 2022 (top)
  • Border markers with the old fence in 2015 (bottom)
Characteristics
Entities Belarus  Lithuania
Length678.8 km (421.8 mi)
History
Established1920
1940
Current shape6 February 1995
TreatiesSoviet–Lithuanian Peace Treaty (1920)
Agreement between the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Belarus concerning the State Border between Lithuania and Belarus (1995)[1]
Belarusian and Lithuanian boundary markers

The Belarus–Lithuania border is an international border almost 678.8 km (421.8 mi)[2] in length between the Republic of Belarus (CIS member) and the Republic of Lithuania (EU member). It is an external border of the European Union as well as the western border of the Commonwealth of Independent States. 379.9 km (236.1 mi) of the border is on land, while 298.9 km (185.7 mi) are on water, crossing lakes, e.g. Lake Drūkšiai and following some rivers, e.g. Dysna River and Neman River.

In August 2022, Lithuania completed the construction of a new border barrier to stop illegal migration. On 18 January 2023, the Lithuanian government renounced the agreement signed with Belarus 16 years ago on the principles of cross-border cooperation.[3]

History

The historical borders of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and later, following the partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, governorates of the Russian Empire varied significantly throughout the history and at times bore little resemblance to the modern borders. The formation of the current border began after the World War I, following the establishment of the Republic of Lithuania and the Lithuanian–Soviet War. The Soviet-Lithuanian Peace Treaty was signed on 12 July 1920, defining and recognizing the eastern border of Lithuania, even though it was de facto controlled by Poland due to the Polish–Lithuanian War and Polish–Soviet War.[4] It was similar to the present border, but the Vilnius region was de facto controlled by Second Polish Republic. Following the World War II and the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states, a new border was established between the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic and Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic within the Soviet Union. It is the basis of the current border which had remained largely stable since 1940.[5]

The border is defined by the treaty of 6 February 1995 between the two countries.[1] The demarcation of the border was completed in 2007.[2] Since 2004 the border has served as the external border of the European Union and, since 2007, the Schengen Area. These developments brought increased border controls and stricter visa requirements for crossing between the two countries. An agreement signed in 2010 aims to implement simplified traveling for people living within 50 km (31 mi) of the border.[6]

Definition of the border

Lavoriškės - Kotlovka border point.

The treaty defines the border as starting at the border tripoint of Lithuania, Latvia and Belarus, where there is a monument (55°40′50″N 26°37′48″E / 55.68056°N 26.63000°E / 55.68056; 26.63000). It goes southeast across Lake Drūkšiai, following river Apyvardė, across lakes Apvardai and Prūtas, further following Dysna River to the east, and further to Adutiškis railway station. It further goes north of Belarusian settlement Lyntupy, east of the Lithuanian settlement Šumskas, across the road Vilnius - Maladzyechna, goes around the area of Lithuanian settlement Dieveniškės from the east, south and west, goes to the North of Belarusian settlement Bieniakoni, crosses the road Vilnius-Lida and further follows Šalčia river. It further continues to the south of Lithuanian city Eišiškės, follows Načia river, goes to the south of Lithuanian settlement Dubičiai, reaches the source of Kotra River and further follows this river, then across lakes Grūda ir Dubas. It further crosses the railroad Vilnius-Grodno next to the stop Senovė, and the railroad to Druskininkai to the north of the stop Pariečė, continuing west towards Neman river and up against the current, and further following Mara river to the border tripoint of Belarus, Lithuania and Poland (53°57′22″N 23°30′54″E / 53.95611°N 23.51500°E / 53.95611; 23.51500).[7]

On 18 January 2023, Lithuanian government renounced the agreement signed with Belarus on the principles of cross-border cooperation. The bill terminated the agreement signed by the governments of Lithuania and Belarus in Vilnius on 1 June 2006, to set out areas of cross-border cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.[3]

Incidents

Main articles: Ryanair Flight 4978 and Belarus–European Union border crisis
Lithuania–Belarus border in 2008 (before the new barrier construction)

On 23 May 2021, Ryanair Flight 4978, an intra-EU flight with 171 passengers on board, crossing the Belarusian airspace, was intercepted by a Belarusian MiG-29 and forced to land at Minsk Airport, where two of the passengers were arrested. The incident was condemned by many governments and described as air hijacking by a state.

In June 2021, Lithuanian officials claimed that Belarusian authorities could encourage illegal migration from Iraq and Syria to Lithuania by organizing groups of refugees and helping them to cross the Belarusian-Lithuanian border.[8][9] It was assumed that the state support of illegal migration could be carried out for political reasons.[9] Illegal migration from Belarus forced Lithuania to declare state of emergency on 7 July 2021.[10]

Year Number of illegal migrants
crossed Belarus—Lithuania border
2017 72
2018 104
2019 46
2020 81
2021 - present 4,613[11]

Border barrier

Barrier with the Concertina wire built near Ašašninkai village, Varėna District Municipality, Lithuania

Lithuania decided to build a border barrier to stem the flow of illegal crossings.[12] On 5 August 2021, the chief of the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service presented a project of the proposed barrier for the entire Belarus-Lithuania border which would be 4 m (13 ft) high and would use multiple layers of the Concertina wire.[13] The cost of the project was estimated at €150 million and the Lithuanian parliament approved it as a matter of urgency. Lithuania completed the 502 km (312 mi) barrier in August 2022 and the modern surveillance equipment was installed by the end of the year.[14] In March 2023, the Lithuanian authorities announced that 100% of the border is surveilled.[15]

Border crossings

There are the following border crossings between Lithuania and Belarus: Medininkai–Kamienny Loh, Lavoriškės–Kotlovka, Šalčininkai–Byenyakoni, Šumskas–Losha, Raigardas–Privalka, Tverečius–Vidzy.[16] As of March 2024, only two of the six road border crossing are open.[17] Two border crossings, Šumskas and Tverečius, were closed by Lithuania on 18 August 2023 due to concerns over Wagner Group mercenaries and smuggling.[18] In January 2024, Lithuania decided to impose movement restrictions and close two more border crossings, Lavoriškės and Raigardas, effective 1 March 2024.[17] The Lithuanian government cited national security concerns, smuggling and violations of international sanctions as the reasons behind the decision.[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Lietuvos Respublikos ir Baltarusijos Respublikos sutartis dėl Lietuvos ir Baltarusijos valstybės sienos" [Agreement between the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Belarus concerning the State Border between Lithuania and Belarus]. Office of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (in Lithuanian). 6 February 1995. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Valstybinės sienos demarkavimas" (in Lithuanian). National Land Service under the Ministry of Agriculture. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Lithuania renounces cooperation agreement with Belarus". lrt.lt. Lithuanian National Radio and Television. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  4. ^ Tsikhamirau, Aliaksandr (2012). "The main stages of the formation of the Belarus identity: historical retrospective" (PDF). Politikos mokslų almanachas.
  5. ^ Digrytė, Eglė. "Lithuanian-Belarusian border: Divided villages, divided lives". 15min. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  6. ^ "R.Palaitis: "Iki bevizio režimo su Baltarusijos pasienio zona trūksta tik pasikeitimo notomis"". Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  7. ^ "Lietuvos Respublikos Seimas - Dokumento tekstas". Office of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Lithuania says Belarus could be behind recent migrant influx". Associated Press. 7 June 2021. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023.
  9. ^ a b Belarus ‘weaponising’ illegal migration, Lithuania says
  10. ^ Lithuania declares state of emergency over migrant arrivals from Belarus
  11. ^ "Neteisėtos migracijos stebėsena (nuo 2021-01-01)". Department of Statistics, Lithuania. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Lithuania plans barrier on Belarus border to stem migrant flow". BBC News. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  13. ^ "VSAT vadas pristatė, kaip atrodytų tvora Lietuvos ir Baltarusijos pasienyje: kainuotų apie 150 mln. eurų, statybos truktų dvejus metus". LRT (in Lithuanian). 5 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Lithuania Finishes Building Wall On Belarusian Border To Stem Flow Of Illegal Migrants". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Lithuania-Belarus border now 100-percent surveilled – ministry". LRT. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Krovininių transporto priemonių srautai ir eilės". Lietuvos Muitinė. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  17. ^ a b c "Lithuania to close two more Belarus border checkpoints, govt decides". LRT (in Lithuanian). 21 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Oficialu: penktadienį uždaromi Šumsko ir Tverečiaus pasienio kontrolės punktai". LRT (in Lithuanian). 16 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
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