Belarus, a Russian ally, banned the import of several types of goods from Lithuania on Thursday in response to the Baltic state’s closure of border crossings, AFP reported.

According to a government press release, the ban applies to a variety of food and alcoholic beverages, household appliances, construction products, clothing and vehicle parts.

This measure “is a response to the decision” taken in early March by Vilnius “to stop the movement of goods, vehicles and people through two checkpoints,” the statement added.

Lithuania, which is the main supporter of Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, has already closed two checkpoints on the border with Belarus last year.

Relations between Minsk and Vilnius have soured since the 2020 presidential election in Belarus, which secured a new term for Oleksandr Lukashenka despite unprecedented protests.

Subsequently, Lithuania welcomed opposition leader Lukashenka Svitlana Tikhanouska, as well as other opponents and tens of thousands of other citizens of Belarus.

Vilnius also accuses Minsk of exploiting illegal migrants by encouraging them to cross the borders of Lithuania and Poland from Belarus in order to destabilize European countries.