EU border guards sent to Lithuania amid migration crisis in Belarus | Migration Issues

A large number of refugees and refugees are joining EU member Lithuania from Belarus as conflicts between Brussels and Minsk simmer.

The first batch of six guards from the European Union’s Frontex border went to work in Lithuania on Friday, as the Baltic government offers another resurgence of refugees and refugees returning from Belarus in the wake of the conflict between the bloc and Minsk.

Lithuanian border guards say in the past 24 hours arrests of 150 refugees and refugees – almost double the entire 2020 year.

This brings the total number of illegal crossings on their 680km (420-mile) border to over 800 so far this year. By 2020, there were 81 crossings.

The Lithuanian government, which strongly opposes former Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, has expressed suspicion that his government will allow refugees and refugees to cross the border.

Lukashenko warned that his country would no longer be able to deal with refugees and internally displaced persons in the EU following the breakdown in relations between his government and Brussels under Minsk’s pressure to lift a passenger plane in May and the arrest of another journalist who had boarded the plane.

“Things are difficult and could be detrimental,” Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told AFP.

“The intent of the foreign ministry is clear – economic migrants who cross the EU border illegally should be repatriated,” he said.

‘Playing with people’s lives’

Two weeks ago, Lithuanian troops set up several tents and refugees, most of whom are said to be from the Middle East, to deal with the increase.

The number of Frontex border guards stationed at the Belarus border is expected to increase to 30 by the end of this month.

European Parliament Speaker David Sassoli spoke of “concern” on Friday about what happened there.

“Once again someone is playing illegally with people’s lives,” he tweeted.

I follow and regret the number of migrants on the borders of Belarus and Lithuania.

Once again someone is playing illegally with people’s lives.

It is clear that throughout Europe, whether in the South or the East, we need equal protection and migration measures to address this problem.

– David Sassoli (@EP_President) July 2, 2021

The EU has imposed economic sanctions on Belarus for forcing the boarding of a Ryanair flight to Minsk, which has since departed from the European Partnerhip, through the EU seeking close links with other former Soviet republics where Western and Russian regimes are fighting.

Belarus was rocked by protests a few months ago last year, prompted by Lukashenko’s nomination as the sixth candidate in the August 2020 election, which has been widely criticized by critics as rigged.

Officials responded to the protests by waging a massive war in which thousands of people were arrested and reports of police brutality.

Many of Lukashenko’s detractors are now either in prison or in exile.

Meanwhile, Lukashenko on Friday ordered the full closure of Belarus’ border with neighboring Ukraine, citing security concerns, BelTA reported.

He told a conference held on Independence Day in the country that rebel groups planning to carry out the coup had been found in Belarus, a BelTA report said.

“More weapons are coming from Ukraine to Belarus. That is why I have ordered border guards to close Ukraine’s borders,” Lukashenko said.