Lithuanian border guards monitoring surveillance systems observed three armed Belarusian officers patrolling the border on the Belarusian side. Wading through snowdrift, they entered 2.5 metres into Lithuanian territory, approached a border barrier constructed on the Lithuanian side and then returned to Belarus. The incident happened close to Vaitiškė village, Ignalina district.
According to the VSAT, the Belarusians seemed to be reluctant to cross the snow-covered decrepit patrol bridge surrounded by bushes that was on the Belarusian side and instead turned left crossing the border line.
Lithuanian border guards called in additional personnel but their involvement was not required. The three Belarusians would not have been able to cross deeper into Lithuania due to the border barrier and the VSAT readiness to respond. The VSAT is collecting data and deciding whether to launch a pre-trial investigation into unlawful crossing of the state border. A Belarusian border guard representative was contacted over the incident.
