By Andrius Sytas

VILNIUS, Dec 9 (Reuters) – Lithuania on Tuesday declared a state of emergency due to threats to public safety from smuggled balloons originating in Belarus, ‍the government said.

Lithuania accuses Belarus of allowing smugglers to use weather balloons to transport contraband cigarettes across the border, repeatedly forcing Vilnius airport to halt operations, disrupting air traffic.

“The state of emergency is announced not only due to civil aviation disruptions but ‌also due to interests of national security,” ‌Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovic told a government meeting that was streamed live.

The declaration grants increased operational freedom to the military, allowing it to act in coordination with police or independently, Kondratovic added, though he did not sp

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