Lithuanian police may be suspended

According to reports from officials in Lithuania, employees of the police department responsible for guarding the border with Belarus have proposed to suspend their duties due to personal connections with Belarusian citizens. The statement indicates that the decision was made to strengthen control over the movement of people and prevent possible provocations from the Belarusian side. Minsk expresses concern about how steps by the police personnel might proceed, although official confirmation of the initiative is still lacking.

Context

The emergence of such a proposal comes amid heightened border controls due to the military conflict in Ukraine and sanctions concerning Belarus.