The Prime Minister of Lithuania – Ingrida Simonyte has announced to build a wall on the border with Belarus and deploy troops, to prevent migrants from illegally entering the country.
Lithuania has accused Belarus of flying in foreign migrants and allowing them to go to the border. More than 1,000 migrants have been detained who crossed along the 679 kms. (422-mile) border since June 1, 2021. This is way too much as compared to 81 migrants who were detained in 2020.
Lithuania is a member of the European Union (E.U.) and home to several Belarusian opponents. She accused Belarus of offering direct flight to migrants so that they can land in Lithuania. A large number of illegal migrants trying to cross into Lithuania from Belarus had been flown in from Turkey.
Speaking on the occasion, Simonyte said, “We will begin building an additional physical barrier, which divides Lithuania and Belarus, which would be a certain sign and a certain deterrent to organisers of the illegal migration flows.”
She further added, “There are travel agencies, direct flights that connect Minsk with Baghdad [Iraq’s capital] for example, and there are agencies both in Belarus and other countries that operate and attract tourists to Minsk.”
Last week, Lithuania declared a state of emergency due to the high inflow of migrants. The authorities have set up tent camps to accommodate the growing number of arrivals, most of whom are from Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Cameroon. The Baltic country is also sending delegations to Turkey and Iraq later this month to discuss the matter with local Governments.
The E.U. has sent personnel from its border agency, Frontex to Lithuania’s border to help deal with the growing migrant crisis. Separately, Lukashenko has repeatedly warned that Belarusian authorities will no longer stop an influx of illegal migrants from abroad to other E.U. members.
Talking about migrants, Lukashenko said, “If some think that we will close our borders with Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine and become a camp for people fleeing Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya and Tunisia they are mistaken.”
He further said, “We won’t hold anyone, they are coming not to us but to the enlightened, warm and cozy Europe.”
Relations between E.U. and Lithuania grew tensed after E.U. refused to recognize the embattled President of Belarus – Alexander Lukashenko as the leader of the nation. He has been accused of rigging the Presidential polls held in 2020. He has been in power for 27 years and is touted as Europe’s last dictator.
The relations got worse when Belarus forcefully diverted a plane, flying over its territory, to arrest Belarusian opposition journalist – Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend – Sofia Sapega. The plane was meant flying from Greece to Lithuania.
