Lukashenko Denies Belarus’ Responsibility for Weather Balloon Incident Over Lithuania and Cussed Out the United States

Self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has refused to take responsibility for the incident with balloons allegedly carrying contraband across the Belarusian-Lithuanian border.

According to him, the United States demanded that Belarus publicly apologize to Lithuania. This was reported by the Belarusian opposition publication NEXTA.

According to Lukashenko, Washington accused the Belarusian side of launching balloons with smuggled goods from its territory.

In response, he refused to apologize, allowing himself a profane comment against the United States.

At the same time, Lukashenko shifted the blame to Lithuania, claiming that it was Lithuanians who launched balloons with contraband cigarettes to make money from the illegal sale. He did not provide any evidence for this version.

On the evening of October 24, Vilnius and Kaunas airports in Lithuania suspended flights due to the appearance of weather balloons in the airspace, which, according to the authorities, came from the territory of Belarus.

The Lithuanian government attributes the recurrence of such incidents to the activities of smuggling groups that use similar means to smuggle goods across the border.