Due to growing arrivals from Belarus and Ukraine, the number of people barred from entering Lithuania has increased last year, according to the State Border Guard Service (VSAT).
The number rose "mainly because more people were barred [from entering Lithuania] from Ukraine and Belarus," VSAT told BNS.
6,087 foreigners were refused entry due to various reasons last year, up 17.1 percent from 5,198 in 2018 and 5,182 people in 2017.
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VSAT figures show the number of incoming Belarusians and Ukrainians grew by 10 and 27 percent, respectively.
"The rise in the number of Ukrainian citizens might be explained by the fact that Lithuanian employers are hiring more people from Ukraine," the service said.
The majority of people were refused entry because they did not have visas or residence permits, or did not have other appropriate documents.
Another frequent reason was that people arrived in vehicles that did not meet requirements in Lithuania and often lacked insurance, the VSAT said.
The number of stolen cars detained at the border also went up by 51 percent last year, with stolen Mercedes Benz Sprinter vans being of particular interest to thieves.
More theft cases were solved using Schengen and Interpol data bases last year, VSAT said.
