Border between Lithuania and Belarus

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Lithuanian-Belarusian border is a 679 km long international border between the NATO and EU member Lithuania and Belarus ( CIS and CSTO member ). It therefore belongs to the external borders of the European Union and to the western border of the Commonwealth of Independent States . The limit was set in the treaty of February 6, 1995 between the two countries. The marking and fortification of the border was completed in 2007.

380 km of the border are on land, while 299 km run through water z. B. the Drūkšiaisee and rivers such as Dysna and the Vistula . The border is based on the border between the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic within the Soviet Union , which has been largely unchanged since 1940.

The border has been the external border of the European Union since 2004 and the Schengen area since 2007 . These developments led to increased border controls and stricter visa requirements for the passage between the two countries. An agreement signed in 2010 aims to make travel easier for people within 50 km of the border.

As the EU's external border, the border with Belarus with 246 offenses in 2010 saw the most attempts to illegally cross the border with Lithuania. In the 2000s and early 2010s, 130 border officials were convicted of corruption.

history

Annexed by Belarus polish territory

The entire Baltic region has always been disputed and divided between changing rulers with different borders. In the first stanza of the “ Song of the Germans ” in 1841, the poet Hoffmann von Fallersleben regarded the Memel as the eastern border of Germany. As a Germanist, however, he has oriented himself more towards the area where the German language is used.

The Lithuanian-Belarusian SSR existed from February 27, 1919 as a union of the Lithuanian SSR with the Belarusian SSR . It only lasted for about seven months. The LitBel SSR was disbanded after Polish troops occupied almost the entire territory during the Polish-Soviet War and Polish-Lithuanian War . The former Lithuanian Vilnius country fell through annexation to Poland in 1920 and it is now part of Belarus. This limit was agreed in the Treaty of Riga on March 18, 1921. Until the Soviet occupation of eastern Poland on September 17, 1939, there was no common border.

  • August 2, 1945: At the Potsdam Conference it is decided that Grodno and the upper reaches of the Memel will become part of the Belarusian Soviet Republic (BSSR). The entire Memel run is therefore Soviet.
  • March 11, 1990: Lithuania declares independence.
  • December 8, 1991: In the Belarusian hunting lodge Wiskuli ( Belarusian Віскулі ) the dissolution of the Soviet Union is decided.
  • May 1, 2004: Lithuania and Poland join the European Union. The border with the Kaliningrad region and Belarus will become the external border of the EU.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the formation of sovereign states, a state border was created between the formerly united Soviet republics. This interrupted a number of traffic routes. Numerous crossing points that were still in operation at the beginning were closed over time and separated by border fortifications.

Course of the border

The current common border begins at the triangle of Lithuania, Latvia and Belarus, where the three border posts have been placed conspicuously together . It runs southeast through Lake Drūkšiai along the Apyvardė River, across the Apvardai and Prūtas Lakes, further along the Dysna River in the east and on to the Adutiškis train station. It continues north of the Belarusian settlement Lyntupy, east of the Lithuanian settlement Šumskas, on the road Vilnius - Maladzyechna, circles the area of ​​the Lithuanian settlement Dieveniškės from east, south and west, goes north of the Belarusian settlement Bieniakoni, crosses the road Vilnius- Lida and continues to follow the river Šalčia. It continues south to the Lithuanian town of Eišiškės, following the Načia River, going south to the Lithuanian settlement Dubičiai, reaching the source of the Kotra River and following this river, then across the Grūda ir Dubas lakes. It crosses the Vilnius- Hrodna railway line next to the Senovė stop and the railway line to Druskininkai north of the Pariečė stop, continues in a westerly direction towards the Vistula and against the current and follows the Mara to the border triangle of Belarus. Lithuania and Poland . World iconWorld icon

On the Lithuanian side, there are sometimes restricted areas with few restrictions, but access is possible almost everywhere up to the border fence. Solid border fortifications are rarely found. As an external border, the EU and the provisions of the Schengen Agreement call for an effective defense against illegal immigrants. From the Belarusian side, access in the wider border area is only possible with permission. The border fortifications are much more massive and well monitored, but are seldom visible from the Lithuanian side. In the border protection strip, which is many kilometers wide, there are 763 settlements that are only accessible to residents, border protection agencies and selected visitors with special permission.

Border crossings

Crossing the border to Lithuania requires a visa according to the law of the European Union (Schengen Agreement) and to Belarus a Belarusian visa. In the local border traffic special provisions. To attractive tourist destinations, such as For example, special permits for visa-free entry to the Belarusian park of the Augustów Canal are occasionally obtained.

Closed and blocked connections across the border are marked with . No

Active and closed border crossings (SW → NO):
LithuaniaFlag of Lithuania.svgLithuania ⇄ BelarusFlag of Belarus.svgBelarus position
Skirna  5303  No  H2101  Karasina ( Belarusian Карасіна ) 55 ° 39 ′ 33 "  N , 26 ° 37 ′ 51"  E
Češulėnai No  H2108  Hureli ( Belarusian Гурэлі ) 55 ° 21 '48  .7 " N , 26 ° 28' 23.7"  E
Tverečius  4402  Truck + car Widsy ( Belarusian Відзы ) 55 ° 19 '24.9 "  N , 26 ° 38' 5.7"  E
Haduzishki No
  H3301  Kruki ( Belarusian Крукі ) 55 ° 9 '13.9 "  N , 26 ° 35' 25.7"  E
Papelekis K109 CAR + BIKE + FOOTG
 P 110 Lyntupy ( Belarusian Лынтупы ) 55 ° 5 '4.9 "  N , 26 ° 15' 35.9"  E
Prienai  4404  No  H6206  Kemelischki ( Belarusian Кемелішкі ) 54 ° 52 ′ 18.3 "  N , 25 ° 48 ′ 35.2"  E
Baravykinė pipeline
 Malyje Waidazischki ( Russian Малые Вайдацишки ) 54 ° 45 ′ 33.6 "  N , 25 ° 44 ′ 54.1"  E
PKP Lavoriškės K103 Truck + car P 45 KPP Katlouka ( Belarusian КПП Котловка ) 54 ° 43 ′ 7.5 ″  N , 25 ° 44 ′ 43.2 ″  E }
Kena
 railroad
 Hudahaj Railway Station ( Belarusian Станцыя Гудагай ) 54 ° 35 '40.4 "  N , 25 ° 45' 26.9"  E
Šumskas K101 people
 P48 Loscha ( Belarusian Лоша ) 54 ° 35 ′ 29.8 "  N , 25 ° 45 ′ 27.1"  E
Medininkai A3 Truck + car
 M7 Kamenny Log ( Belarusian Каменны Лог ) 54 ° 32 '39.4 "  N , 25 ° 41' 58.8"  E
 5258  No
  H7726  54 ° 32 '5.8 "  N , 25 ° 40' 49.3"  E
Ažubenis  3937  No
  Н6334  Hryhi ( Belarusian Грыгі ) 54 ° 26 '53.2 "  N , 25 ° 37' 20.5"  E
Kurmelionys  3910  No
  H6327  Anzhadava ( Belarusian Анжадава ) 54 ° 22 '4.3 "  N , 25 ° 34' 17"  E
Ureliai  3904  CAR + BIKE + FOOTG
 P 146 Kljawiza ( Belarusian Клявіца ) 54 ° 16 '30.2 "  N , 25 ° 43' 46"  E
Norviliškės No  H6151  Pjazkuny ( Belarusian Пяцкуны ) 54 ° 13 '55.3 "  N , 25 ° 46' 48.3"  E
Krakūnai K104 Truck + car
 P89 PUP Heranjony ( Belarusian ПУП "Геранёны" ) 54 ° 8 ′ 45.2 "  N , 25 ° 36 ′ 6.2"  E
Šalčininkai A15 Truck + car

 M11 Benjakoni ( Belarusian Беняконі ) 54 ° 16 '22 .1 "  N , 25 ° 22' 35"  E
Eišiškės K105 No P 145 Dozischki ( Belarusian Доцішкі ) 54 ° 8 ′ 18.5 "  N , 25 ° 0 ′ 47.9"  E
Strėžiūnai No Bjaljunzy ( Belarusian Бялюнцы ) 54 ° 7 '10.4 "  N , 24 ° 48' 12.5"  E
Būdos No Natscha ( Belarusian Нача ) 54 ° 4 '2.5 "  N , 24 ° 49' 11.9"  E
Rakai at Balbutai  5008  CAR + BIKE + FOOTG
  H6255  Pjazjuleuzy ( Belarusian Пяцюлеўцы ) 53 ° 57 '54.2 "  N , 24 ° 42' 10.8"  E
Senovė No Uzberash ( Belarusian Узбераж )
 53 ° 56 '46.6 "  N , 24 ° 13' 41.5"  E
Latežeris  5006  CAR + BIKE + FOOTG
 P41 Paretschtscha ( Belarusian Парэчча ) 53 ° 56 '14.5 "  N , 24 ° 4' 48.3"  E
Druskininkai No Nastaunik ( Belarusian Настаўнік )
 53 ° 56 '11.8 "  N , 24 ° 4' 28.6"  E
PKP Raigardas  № 419  bicycle
  № 419  Prywalki ( Belarusian Прывалкі ) 53 ° 56 '29.7 "  N , 23 ° 58' 13.9"  E
A4 Truck + car

 P42
Švendubrė near Lipliūnai  2520  No
 53 ° 58 '10.9 "  N , 23 ° 54' 46.8"  E
Kapčiamiestis ( German  Methenburg )  2504  Truck + car  H6054  Kadysch ( Belarusian Кадыш ) 53 ° 55 '54.3 "  N , 23 ° 40' 56.2"  E

Remarks

  1. ^ The hunting lodge was the Belarusian government dossier. It is not far from the border with Poland and only 140 km from Lithuania. After the surrounding Białowieża jungle , the so-called Beloveshskaya Pushcha Agreements (also the Beloveschskaya Agreement or the Minsk Treaty ) were signed for the official dissolution of the Soviet Union. At the same time, a Union of Slavic States was founded, which on December 21, 1991 became the Commonwealth of Independent States .
  2. ↑ Border on the bridge over the Dysna
    Modernized Tverečius border checkpoint officially opened. January 29, 2016, accessed June 11, 2019 .
  3. ↑ Former level crossing and access to the Гадуцішкі / Haduciški stop ( UIC № 2100471, )World icon
  4. ↑ Lt. OSM small border traffic
  5. ↑ Vilnius natural gas pipeline. Operator: "ОАО Газпром трансгаз Беларусь" , 54  bar 1220 mm Ø, built in 1988, part of the Northern Lights gas pipeline , branch of the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline from Minsk to Vilnius → Kaliningrad
  6. ↑ Šumsko station - was the former station (halfway). The station, which is no longer in operation, served as a border station until Lithuania joined the Schengen area. After Lithuania joined the Schengen area, Kena station became the most important border crossing for the Lithuanian railways and has therefore been significantly expanded and modernized.
  7. ↑ Railway line since 1873. The border is on the bridge over the Vilnia ( Belarusian Вільня )
  8. ↑ Checkpoint Losha daily from 8.30 am to 8 pm, only for people on foot or with a vehicle who live in the border area. No freight traffic!
  9. ↑ Old transition before the motorway was built. On July 31, 1991, the border station, which was illegal from a Soviet and international perspective, was attacked by a Soviet OMON commando from Riga . Seven Lithuanian border guards were shot dead. → Attack on the Medininkai border station
  10. ↑ Connection interrupted
    «Карычневы гузік-3», або прыгранічнае падарожжа па Ашмяншчыне. The cross-border ride in the Oshmyany district. belpohod.inf, February 13, 2018, accessed June 10, 2019 (by).
  11. ↑ Border crossing closed since 2003.
  12. ↑ Only small border traffic
  13. ↑ a b c Regular border crossing for passenger and goods traffic, but no passage for pedestrians.
    Belarus stops pedestrian traffic at car checkpoints on border with Lithuania. Belarus is closing the checkpoints for pedestrian traffic on the Lithuanian border. EN.DELFI, October 1, 2014, accessed on June 11, 2019 .
  14. ↑ Small border traffic only, Friday to Sunday 11 am-5pm; April 25: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  15. ↑ terminus UIC 2100816, only public transport in Belarus
  16. ↑ Only small border traffic, November to March 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, April to October 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
  17. ↑ terminus UIC 2100723, only public transport in Belarus, the railway line has existed since 1934 . It used to run to Druskininkai.
  18. ↑ Маршрут № 419 «Райгород» ( German  route № 419 "Paradise City" ), a 68 km long bicycle route, mainly along the Memel, which connects the cities of Hrodno (Belarus) and Druskininkai (Lithuania).
    OSM route course. OSM, accessed June 11, 2019 . BELARUS AND LITHUANIA ARE GETTING READY FOR CROSS-BORDER CYCLING AND KAYAKING. ENPI , July 29, 2015, accessed June 11, 2019 . Маршрут № 419 «Райгород». Route № 419 “City of Paradise”. Гродненский городской исполнительный комитет, accessed June 11, 2019 (Belarusian). Cycling tour (RTF) Маршрут № 419 "Райгород" Гродно-Друскеники велосипедный. GPSies, May 5, 2015, accessed June 11, 2019 . Best Hikes on Маршрут № 419 "Райгород". GAIA GPS, accessed June 11, 2019 . УПРАВЛЕНИЕ СПОРТА И ТУРИЗМА ГРОДНЕНСКОГО ОБЛИСПОЛКОМА. 2016, Retrieved June 11, 2019 (Russian).
  19. ↑ Day stays without a visa to visit the Augustov Canal
    Checkpoint Privalka
    day visa are also possible
  20. ↑ Disused ferry connection and joint border clearance building on the Lithuanian side. It was an EU project started in 2007 that was  opened for seasonal operation on Aug. 1, 2012 at river kilometer 147.6 and ended on Oct. 31, 2015 to promote tourist border traffic .
    Construction of Svendubre Seasonal River Border Crossing Point and Bugieda Berth. EU, November 23, 2015, accessed June 12, 2019 . Project - Construction of Švendubrė Seasonal River Border Crossing Point and Bugieda Berth. Project Summary. European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), December 19, 2018, accessed June 11, 2019 . CBC project allows opening of river border crossing between Lithuania and Belarus. CBC, November 27, 2015, accessed June 12, 2019 . BELARUS AND LITHUANIA ARE GETTING READY FOR CROSS-BORDER CYCLING AND KAYAKING. ENPI, July 29, 2015, accessed June 12, 2019 .

Web links

swell

  1. ^ Situation at the border → Interactive map. State Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus, 2019, accessed June 12, 2019 .
  2. ^ The World Factbook. CIA , 2019, accessed June 12, 2019 .
  3. ↑ a b c Eglė Digrytė: Lithuanian-Belarusian border: Divided villages, divided lives. Lithuanian-Belarusian border: divided villages, divided life. October 19, 2012, accessed June 12, 2019 . List of the settlements located in the border zone. 1.1.2. on the state border of the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Lithuania. State Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus, accessed June 12, 2019 .
  4. ↑ R. Palaitis: Iki bevizio režimo su Baltarusijos pasienio zona trūksta tik pasikeitimo notomiS. There are still no ideas that could be changed before visa-free traffic with the Belarusian border area is possible. UAB "Lrytas", February 6, 2012, accessed June 11, 2019 (Lithuanian).
  5. ↑ Jonathan Brown: Lithuania: Caught Between Espionage and Smuggling. DW , December 18, 2016, accessed June 12, 2019 . Elisabet Hill: At the Belarusian-Lithuanian border, a man was arrested while smuggling 23 kg of drugs. The Baltic Rundschau, March 3, 2014, accessed on June 12, 2019 . Daugiausia pažeidėjų - ties siena su Baltarusija titelerg = Most of the offenders are on the border with Belarus. TIESA.com, January 10, 2011, accessed June 12, 2019 (Lithuanian).
  6. ^ The Memel in the course of history. bpb , August 27, 2012, accessed June 12, 2019 .
  7. ↑ the three-country point can be easily visited from Lithuania via field and forest paths. From the Latvian side there is no easy path and from the Belarusian side the area is largely closed. But there have been occasions when selected Belarusian citizens took part in joint festivities at the three-country corner.
  8. ↑ Lietuvos Respublikos ir Baltarusijos Respublikos sutartis dėl Lietuvos ir valstybės Baltarusijos ... February 6, 1995, accessed on June 12, 2019 (Lithuanian).
  9. ↑ Information on visa-free visits to the Awgustow Canal Park for foreigners. Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the Federal Republic of Germany, 2013, accessed on June 13, 2019 .
  10. ↑ Information Checkpoint Kotlovka
  11. ↑ Information Checkpoint Kamenny Log
  12. ↑ Checkpoint Benyakoni