Lithuanian troops to get payouts for helping border guards to protect Belarusian border

VILNIUS – Over 4,000 Lithuanian troops who have helped the country's border guards in coping with the recent influx of illegal migrants from Belarus will receive payouts from the National Defense Ministry.

It said on Thursday all troops who have assisted the State Border Guard Service's officers since July would be paid.

National Defense Minister Arvydas Anuauskas thanked troops for their service and the protection of the state border, working under higher risk conditions during the existing extreme situation declared in Lithuania.

Liepa Rimkeviciene, spokeswoman for the minister, later told BNS troops would receive one-off payments of 1,062 or 531 euros before tax, depending on the duration of their service. A total of 3.3 million euros will be allocated for the purpose.

More than 1,000 troops are now helping border guards.

The army's mandate to act on the border is in force until November 13. The government's extreme situation commission proposed on Thursday to extend the mandate for another three months.