Lukashenka: On Monday we can start turning blocked trucks

Belarusian leader Alaksandr Lukashenka announced on Friday that Belarus could start returning trucks from Monday with Lithuanian registration blocked from October in his country.

"I will make a decision, and I think that we will start the process of returning these trucks from Monday," said Lukashenko, quoted by the State Agency BielTA.

The president of the Lithuanian Carriers Association "Linava" Erlandas Mikenas reported that the transport manufacture had not yet received authoritative confirmation of the announcement of the return of the trucks, nevertheless he stressed that a possible return of vehicles would mean the end of the crisis that has been ongoing for months.

"Linava" estimates that since the end of last year Belarus has blocked the return to the country of 1.47 1000 vehicles, and losses from this could scope EUR 22 million.

Ignas Dobrovolskas, advisor to the Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingi Rugiene, estimated that the announcement of the start of the return of detained Lithuanian trucks, specified as the release of 250 political prisoners by the Belarusian authorities, "is the consequence of Lithuania's cooperation with the United States".