Lithuania, a member of the European Union, will close its border with Belarus if smuggler balloons re-enter from the neighboring country, Prime Minister Ingra Ruginiene said on Wednesday.
Lithuania has resumed flights at Vilnius Airport and transits with Belarus, when the balloons entered the capital’s airspace on Wednesday, the National Crisis Management Center (NCMC) said.
“If such a large passage of balloons across our border is repeated, we will react immediately and close our border with Belarus … We will not make any concessions to Belarus,” Ruginiene told reporters.
He did not say how long such a shutdown would last.
Authorities said multiple balloons and four people were arrested.
More than 4,000 passengers were affected when dozens of helium balloons were floated against the airport on Tuesday. Lithuania closed its border crossings with Russia’s ally Belarus after the incidents.
The NCMC said it was the second time this month that balloons carrying cigarettes from Belarus had been reported suspended in Vilnius, 30 km (20 miles) from the border.
European aviation has repeatedly been thrown into chaos in recent weeks, including at airports in Copenhagen, Munich and the Baltic region. Russia denied responsibility for the events.
