This important event will affect many tomorrow: essential things for residents to know about the curfew

After it was announced that Lithuanian army exercises will take place in the Vilnius and Kaunas regions and a curfew will be introduced (from May 7 at 10 p.m. to May 8 at 5 a.m.), residents are pouring out their anger on social networks.

“Since when do practice shootings take place in big cities?” One thing is that the street surface is not suitable for armored vehicles. Another thing is that there are polygons for training. Why artificially panic people,” the resident wrote.

“In my opinion, you cannot disturb people’s peace with night shootings if there is no war,” said another.

“What right do they have to exercise in the city and impose a curfew in peacetime?” They make fun of us,” the netizen complained.

What is the purpose of curfew?

Curfew is one of the instruments granted to the military commandant by law, enabling him to control criminogenic, diversionary or intelligence activities in his area of ​​responsibility. After the introduction of curfew, the movement of residents is restricted and movement is allowed only with a permit issued by the curfew. These tools make it easier to identify and prevent illegal or malicious activity.

During these exercises, commandant units will train for the first time to cooperate with the Lithuanian Police and Military Police officers in establishing checkpoints, stopping traffic, checking and arresting.

What is important for civilians to know?

Representatives of the Lithuanian army highlighted the most important points for the news portal tv3.lt, what civilians need to know about these military exercises.

What are these exercises for?

“Perkūnos bastionas” – a cycle of exercises designed to train Military Commandants, to strengthen the interaction of Commandants with municipalities, governmental and non-governmental organizations. This year, 22 commandant offices are being activated in Vilnius and Kaunas regions.

On May 6-8, commandants assigned to these commandants and their deputies will practice interaction, requisition procedures, introduction and implementation of curfew, protection of objects and other tasks. The practical implementation of the curfew will be practiced by the Vilnius and Kaunas city commandant offices, where not only military commandants and their deputies, but also headquarters and commandant units will be activated for the first time. In the mentioned cities from May 7. 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. on the 8th a curfew will be imposed in the designated areas.

As indicated by the representatives of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, the exercises are aimed at improving the readiness of soldiers, members of the armed forces, allies, partners, governmental and non-governmental organizations and companies to act in cases of crisis, mobilization, armed conflict or war. This strengthens the nation’s resilience and ensures a united readiness to respond to threats.

Exercises in Vilnius

As the army told BNS, 22 commandants in Kaunas and Vilnius regions will be activated on May 6-7. They, along with deputies and assigned personnel, will practice cooperation with municipal administrations and other state institutions after the declaration of mobilization and martial law in the country.

During these exercises, from May 7 at 10 p.m. until the next day at 5 o’clock in the morning in Vilnius and Kaunas, actions will be practiced after the introduction of the curfew. These actions are planned to be organized in the territories of Vilnius Viršuliškii and Aukštiių Paneriai and Kaunas Palemons micro-district, where commandant units and the police will carry out control of the territory, protection of objects, and inspection of transport.

“The activities and traffic of residents will not be restricted during the exercise, but real checkpoints of the Lithuanian police and commandant units are planned, where passing vehicles can be stopped, documents and other procedures, which are usual during road police raids, will be checked,” the army’s comment reads.

During the exercise, simulated sound, explosive and smoke devices may be used in populated areas, personnel assigned to the exercise and marked vehicles may be detained, stopped and searched.