Lithuania accuses Belarus of influx of migrants / Article

Lithuania accuses Belarus of being linked to a sharp increase in migration flows. Last week alone, 52 migrants were detained for crossing the border illegally – citizens of Iraq, Syria, Belarus and Russia who have applied for asylum in Lithuania. Vilnius has asked for the help of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.

A delegation from the Lithuanian Parliament arrived at the border with Belarus on Monday to assess the situation on the ground. The Lithuanian Border Guard reports a significant increase in irregular migration from Belarus.

The detention of nine more Iraqi asylum seekers was announced on Monday, and some 250 irregular migrants have been detained since the autumn and early this year. In the last five years, these are record numbers, Lithuania reports.

“We have talked to the heads of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency about the possibilities to deploy European Union border guards in Lithuania.

In principle, an agreement has been reached on this, and from July we will have European Union border guards at the Lithuanian-Belarusian border, ”informs Rustams Lubayev, the head of the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service.

The Lithuanian Border Guard has published a video showing Belarusian border guards leveling a strip of sand at the border to hide migrants’ footprints.

Given Vilnius’ active support for the Belarusian democratic opposition, Lithuanian officials have not ruled out that the increase in migrant flows may be due to deliberate actions by Belarusian officials.

“We already see different interests between those who organize these trips from Minsk and those who want to get to Western Europe. If someone manages to get over it [robežai], the so – called Divine Loop, then he will be detained anyway, because there are several levels of protection.

Apparently, this information has reached Syria, Iraq. Instead of the fabulous treasures of Western Europe, you may have to take refuge in the best conditions in Lithuania, ”says Laurins Kasčiūns, Chairman of the Seimas National Security and Defense Committee.

The so-called Divine Loop is the territory of Lithuania, which is almost completely surrounded by Belarus.

In Lithuania, there is a perception that there is a direct link between certain international flights to Minsk, such as from Istanbul and Baghdad, and groups of migrants who then try to enter Lithuania.

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