International security

Is Lithuania playing with fire by slapping sanctions on Belarus? 

Lithuania is risking its security and a chunk of its economy by being the first to impose sanctions on Belarus over its disputed presidential election, it's been claimed.

Vilnius and its Baltic neighbours, Latvia and Estonia, imposed travel bans on Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and dozens of officials. That was over allegations the August 9 poll was rigged in Lukashenko's favour and the subsequent crackdown on protesters.

But the sanctions were imposed without waiting for the rest of the European Union and that could spell danger for Lithuania, according to an MP.

“I could not even rule out military aggression or flare-ups on the [Lithuania-Belarus] border," said Simonas Gentvilas.