Belarusian dictator has not given up, directs migrants to Latvia and Poland / Article

More than 4,000 migrants have arrived in Lithuania in recent months. In a conversation with Abramavičs, LTV journalist Gints Amoliņš asked about the allocation of 300 euros to migrants to return home, and about Lithuania’s recommendations to Latvia now that the flow of migrants has shifted to us.

Gints Amoliņš: What is the current situation, and do you think that Lithuania has already weathered the storm?

Arnolds Abramavičs: No, sometimes silence before a storm is most dangerous. We stopped and eliminated the largest flows a week and a half ago with almost 300 crossings, so we made an emergency decision [migrantiem] prevent them from entering the country by forcing them to return to Belarus or border checkpoints. But [migranti] still trying to get in, but it has at least given us a chance to catch our breath.

Then you think that everything is not over yet, expect new difficulties in the future?

I suspect it. It is definitely not the end. The Belarussian regime is wondering how to react more forcefully. Now they are redirecting some migrants, unfortunately, to Latvia, some to Poland. But the dictator has not given up. This is a major concern.

A few days ago, the Lithuanian authorities promised 300 euros to migrants who agree to return voluntarily. Are migrant settlements interested in this offer?

The first migrants have already returned, but in some cases there are less than ten. But now we have launched an information campaign, distributing leaflets in the settlements that they have been deceived, and it would be best to return home, otherwise they will be stuck here in the harsh winter. Unfortunately, not everyone understands this.

We also have a capacity problem. More than 4,000 migrants, but only two thousand are currently processing asylum applications, the other two thousand have not yet started.

How many asylum applications have already been processed and how many have been approved or rejected?

Of this wave of migration, 120 asylum applications have already been rejected and no one has been approved at present. We consider Iraq to be a safe country of origin. But there are also people from Syria and Afghanistan in this wave, so part of it will probably be granted asylum, but to a small number.

As Lithuania has had several weeks of experience with this situation, but it is quite new for Latvia – what would be your advice to Latvia?

The main recommendation would be to find accommodation. It is necessary to think about this in good time, because later there is growing resistance from local governments, especially those close to the Belarusian border.

And they are also partly influenced by Belarusian propaganda. Therefore, finding a place to set up potential migrant settlements is a challenge.

CONTEXT:

In the summer of 2021 the number of migrants has increased significantly, which is trying to enter the territory of Lithuania from Belarus. Most migrants have come from Iraq.

Lithuanian officials believe that the Belarusian authorities deliberately does not constitute an obstacle to the crossing of the borderto punish Lithuania for supporting the Belarusian opposition and imposing sanctions on the Alexander Lukashenko regime. Lithuania describes such action as the spread of a hybrid war against the European Union.

Lithuania is planning to reduce the flow of migrants along the Belarusian border to Build a Fence Four Meters High |. Border guards have also been ordered send migrants back to Belarus. After this decision, the flow of migrants to Lithuania has slowed down, but there is an influx at the Belarusian border with Latvia and Poland.

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