Lithuania is not currently planning to follow Latvia in banning bus routes to Belarus. This was stated by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Jaras Taminskas, while commenting on calls from some politicians to impose similar restrictions. According to him, the government regularly assesses the situation but does not see grounds for hasty decisions. "We always keep our finger on the pulse, always weigh the situation. We definitely will not make abrupt moves," said the minister. This was Taminskas's response to the proposal from conservative MP Arvydas Anušauskas, who urged Lithuania to join Latvia's plans to ban bus transportation to Russia and Belarus. The minister also noted that Vilnius's decisions should not depend on the internal political situation in neighboring countries. In his opinion, discussions of such initiatives in Latvia are taking place against the backdrop of upcoming municipal elections, so Lithuania intends to rely on its own assessment of risks. This week, the Latvian Ministry of Transport presented amendments to the Law on Road Transport to the government. They stipulate that from 2027, both regular and irregular bus transportation to Russia and Belarus, as well as transit through Latvian territory to these countries, may be banned. A final decision on these changes in Latvia has not yet been made. The bill must undergo further review. In Lithuania, there are also calls to first obtain assessments from relevant agencies. Member of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense Tomas Martynaitis stated that before making a decision, it is necessary to wait for conclusions from the State Security Department, the State Border Guard Service, the Ministry of Transport, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to him, it is important to consider the possible consequences for passengers and carriers. If only one country imposes restrictions, bus routes may simply be redirected through Poland. Currently, according to BNS agency, there are 29 permits for regular passenger transport between Lithuania and Russia, Belarus, or transit through Lithuanian territory. Of these, 17 routes connect Vilnius with Belarusian cities, including Minsk, Grodno, Gomel, Lida, and Oshmyany. Thus, Vilnius is not currently planning to repeat Latvia's steps and believes that any possible restrictions should be discussed in coordination with neighboring countries.
