Belarus accuses Lithuania of drone spying and spreading extremism

Belarus accused Lithuania of sending a drone across the border to spy and spread "extremist materials". The Belarusian interior ministry said the drone crashed in the city of Grodno and contained both camera equipment and leaflets with opposition symbols.

Authorities say the drone took off from the Lithuanian village of Kapciamiestis. Lithuania has strongly denied these allegations, describing them as a fabrication by the Belarusian regime, which it says regularly fabricates and blames on the West.

The incident took place just a day after Vilnius suspended air traffic because of suspicious balloons that were apparently used to smuggle cigarettes from Belarus.

(reuters, swag)