Latvia And Lithuania Consider A Complete Ban On Bus Traffic With Belarus

• 17.05.2026, 18:23

Details.

Against the background of growing fears for the safety of citizens in Lithuania, proposals to limit or even completely ban bus traffic with Belarus are becoming more and more frequent. Latvia is already discussing a project of a complete ban on bus travel to Belarus and Russia. This is reported by delfi.lt.

Latvian authorities explain the initiative by the need to protect citizens from possible threats from authoritarian regimes.

The representative of the Lithuanian Saeima Laurynas Kasciunas believes that the Baltic States should act in concert.

"If Latvia tightens restrictions and Lithuania does not, we may become a weak link," the politician warned.

Deputy Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas Viktoria Cmilite-Nielsen said that Belarus uses people as political hostages. She recalled that the regime of Alexander Lukashenko has repeatedly detained foreign citizens and then used them in political negotiations and propaganda campaigns.

At the same time, Lithuanian Transport Minister Eugenius Sabutis does not yet see the need for a complete ban. According to him, the number of routes between Lithuania and Belarus has already been reduced by almost half, and this, according to the ministry, is enough to control the situation.

Now at least 12 buses depart from Vilnius to Minsk every day, reminds the newspaper.