Lithuania provides reasoning behind the scrapping of multiple aviation routes linking Vilnius and Minsk
In August 2022, the Lithuanian Ministry of Transport and Communications announced the suspension of several bus routes between Vilnius, Lithuania, and Minsk, Belarus. This decision was a direct response to the decline in the number of international bus permits issued to Belarusian carriers.
The Lithuanian government's decree on an extraordinary situation, implemented in 2021, limits the number of international bus routes with Belarus to 29. Each route allows one trip in each direction on one bus. However, the number of buses crossing the border exceeded this limit, prompting the Ministry to take action.
The Lithuania's Transport Safety Administration (LTSA) communicates this information to border control points to ensure compliance with regulations. Moreover, the LTSA publishes information about routes and permit validity on its website, keeping the public informed about this matter.
It's important to note that previous permits, which allowed for more trips, will remain valid until their expiration. However, the halving of the number of permits for bus transport between Lithuania and Belarus, from 58 to 29, as early as the beginning of 2024, will impact the number of trips that can be made.
The suspension of most bus routes between Minsk and Vilnius by "Minsktrans" and Eurolines is still in effect, pending necessary permits. An employee of Eurolines confirmed that Lithuania is not allowing their buses to enter the country at this time.
The suspension of bus routes between Vilnius and Minsk is not linked to the "Svyaty Vykh" military exercises in Lithuania or the upcoming joint Russian-Belarusian exercises "Zapad". These geopolitical events have not influenced the current situation regarding bus routes between the two countries.
Permits are issued on a parity basis: a Lithuanian carrier can only receive a permit if its Belarusian partner has an equivalent document. This system ensures fairness in the distribution of permits between the two countries.
The suspension of these bus routes can be seen within the broader context of deteriorating transport and political relations between Lithuania and Belarus, following increased sanctions and restrictions linked to political conflicts in the region, including Belarus' internal crisis and international responses (for example, the EU sanctions on Belarus and restrictions on Belarusian carriers in EU airspace).
In summary, the suspension of bus routes between Lithuania and Belarus is a direct regulatory consequence of the low number of bus permits granted for Belarusian carriers, making routes unsustainable. The Lithuanian government and its transport authorities are taking steps to ensure compliance with regulations and maintain order at the border, reflecting the broader geopolitical tensions and transport restrictions affecting Lithuania-Belarus connections since 2021-2022.
- The Lithuanian government's restriction on international bus routes with Belarus, due to the limited number of permits, is part of the general-news of increasing political tensions between the two countries.
- The suspension of bus routes between Lithuania and Belarus, following the decline in provided permits, can be linked to the broader politics of the region, where increased sanctions and restrictions are being implemented due to political conflicts and internal crises.
