VILNIUS, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Lithuania on Tuesday declared a state of emergency due to threats to public safety from smuggled balloons originating in Belarus, the government said. (Reporting by Andrius
Lithuania Announces Emergency Over Belarus Balloon Incursions
By Andrius Sytas
VILNIUS, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Lithuania's government on Tuesday declared a state of emergency over smuggler balloons originating in Belarus that have disrupted aviation, and asked parliament to allow the military to operate alongside police and border guards.
Vilnius airport has been closed repeatedly due to the weather balloons, which Lithuania says are sent by smugglers transporting cigarettes and constitute a "hybrid attack" by Belarus, a close ally of Russia.
"The state of emergency is announced not only due to civil aviation disruptions but also due to interests of national security," Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovic told a government meeting that was streamed live on Tuesday.
Belarus has denied responsibility for the balloons and accused Lithuania of provocations including sending a drone to drop "extremist material", which Lithuania denies.
SEEKING EXTENDED POWERS FOR THE ARMY
The Lithuanian government asked parliament to grant the military powers to act in concert with police, border guards and security forces during the state of emergency, as well as on its own, Kondratovic said.
If parliament agrees, the army will be given permission to limit access to a territory, to stop and search vehicles, to perform checks on people, their documents and their belongings, and to detain those resisting or suspected of crimes.
The military would be permitted to use force for these functions, Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said. The emergency measures will last until the government calls them off.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on December 1 that the situation at the border was worsening, and called the balloon incursions a "hybrid attack" by Belarus that was "completely unacceptable".
Lithuania also imposed a state of emergency in 2021 in the Belarus border region over what it said was a campaign by Belarus to send migrants across the border illegally.
The following year Vilnius announced a state of emergency following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, over fears that Lithuania could also become a target.
(Reporting by Andrius SytasWriting by Stine JacobsenEditing by Terje Solsvik and Peter Graff)
