Vilnius district man crossed into Russia through closed Nida checkpoint

A man from Vilnius district drove through the closed Nida border checkpoint and briefly crossed into Russia on foot, LRT reported, citing the State Border Guard Service (VSAT).

The incident took place on July 22 at about 10:50 a.m. Surveillance cameras showed the driver of an Audi A5 Sportback pulling away a section of the security fence before ramming the checkpoint’s raised barriers. He then drove around concrete anti-vehicle obstacles known as dragon’s teeth.

The man stopped, left the car and crossed the state border on foot. After reaching the Russian security fence, he stood there briefly before returning across the border. He got back into the car at about 10:55 a.m. and drove out of the checkpoint area.

Officers from the Neringa border guard unit soon detained him. The man was identified as a 40-year-old Lithuanian citizen, T.A., who lives in Vilnius district. He was sober, and a test found no signs of intoxication by narcotic or psychotropic substances.

He was held at the Klaipėda detention facility and released the following day after questioning, subject to a written pledge not to leave. A pretrial investigation has been opened into the illegal crossing of the state border. The driver faces a fine, detention or up to two years in prison.

VSAT spokeswoman Lina Laurinaitytė said the incident had not been made public earlier because officials had considered other events more relevant to the public at the time.