A state of emergency has been declared in Lithuania: what is the reason
9 December 13:58
The Lithuanian government declares a state of emergency throughout the country due to numerous incidents involving smuggled bullets coming from Belarus. Minister of Internal Affairs Vladislav Kondratovich was appointed head of the state emergency operation.
This was reported by LRT, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, these balloons pose a threat to national security, interfere with civil aviation and the functioning of Vilnius Airport, which leads to financial losses and damage to the country’s reputation. The state of emergency allows for more effective coordination of government agencies and the support of military units to patrol and control the territories.
Minister Kondratovych explained that the introduction of the regime will not create additional inconveniences for citizens, except for increased patrolling, especially in the border regions.
“Today we are legitimizing the army’s participation in patrolling, and every night the crews together with the police control the territories and detect smuggled goods,“ he said.
In addition, the government has addressed the Sejm with a proposal to give the military additional powers to fulfill emergency tasks. They will be able to give mandatory instructions to individuals and legal entities, pursue and detain violators, check documents and vehicles, and use special equipment. If the Sejm approves the proposal, these powers will be valid for three months.
The minister also emphasized the importance of engaging citizens: “If the public actively reports cases of smuggled bullets arriving on private property, we can respond more quickly. Already, thanks to reports from citizens, we are able to find a significant part of illegal cargo.“
