Lithuania Tightens Border Control with Belarus, Closes Crossings

Lithuania has decided to close two of its six border crossing points with Belarus due to "geopolitical circumstances," following the recent arrival of Russian mercenaries in the country. The government did not provide specific details about the circumstances or threats. This decision comes after neighboring Poland closed most of its border crossings with Belarus earlier this year. Latvia, the third EU country bordering Belarus, has also faced attempts by illegal immigrants to cross from Belarus, prompting the deployment of additional troops. In 2021, the Baltic states experienced an immigration crisis as thousands of migrants attempted to cross from Belarus, leading to a policy of pushing them back.