Two illegal migrants were turned back at the Lithuanian border with Belarus, while neighboring Latvia and Poland reported similar incidents involving migrants.
The Lithuanian border guard agency, VSAT, reported the turnback of two illegal migrants at the border with Belarus. This comes amid a more extensive issue of migration in the region, as Latvia's border service on Thursday denied entry to ten migrants, and Polish officials noted six similar cases the day before. The ongoing situation is a reflection of the broader migration crisis in Eastern Europe, which has seen a significant influx of individuals attempting to cross into the EU from Belarus.
In the previous year, Lithuanian authorities prevented more than 1,600 illegal crossings from Belarus, whereas this year the number stands at just 37, indicating an effective crackdown on illegal immigration following increased surveillance and border control measures. However, the total number of illegal migrants turned away since the onset of the migration crisis has reached approximately 24,600, highlighting the ongoing challenges and pressures faced by border security agencies in the region.
The migration crisis, which escalated in 2021, has been heavily politicized, with Western nations attributing the influx of migrants to the actions of the Minsk regime. This situation continues to elicit complex responses from EU member states, balancing humanitarian concerns with security and border integrity. The actions being taken by Lithuania and its neighbors reflect a coordinated approach to managing the influx of individuals while navigating the political implications surrounding the crisis.
