Lithuania is initiating cross-border proceedings against Belarus over migrant smuggling, accusing Minsk of facilitating irregular migration in order to pressure Vilnius and the EU.
The proposal was made by the Justice Ministry and approved in principle by the cabinet on Wednesday.
“This is critical when we talk about the decisions of the government and the parliament made when approving various restrictions,” Justice Minister Ewelina Dobrowolska said.
“What the Belarusian regime is doing is not a natural migration route.”
Several thousand irregular migrants, mostly from Africa and the Middle East, crossed into Lithuania from Belarus in the summer of 2021. The government soon instructed border guards to push migrants back and accused Minsk of migrant smuggling.
Lithuania will seek to have the case heard by an arbitration tribunal or the International Court of Justice.
Belarus will be sued for non-compliance with international law, the Justice Ministry said.
“We have enough evidence that the Belarusian regime has not only been deliberately pushing people into the territory of Lithuania for two years, but has also been initiating actions to ensure that migrants are able to enter the territory of Lithuania,” said Dobrowolska.
She added that Vilnius would be seeking damages from Belarus of at least 120 million euros.
“Lithuania will seek compensation. Damages that we have suffered not only by keeping migrants, but also by strengthening our border control, infrastructure that we did not have,” the minister told reporters on Wednesday. “Preliminary estimates put it at no less than 120 million euros.”
Subject to government approval, the Justice Ministry will now be able to hire experts or lawyers to work on the cross-border dispute. The costs will be paid out of the “government reserve or other funds borrowed on behalf of the state”.
Lithuania has refused entry to a total of 20,000 migrants from Belarus since August 3, 2021, drawing criticism from rights groups and international organisations that Vilnius fails to respect the right to seek asylum.
Lithuanian border guards claim Belarusian officials are actively contributing to irregular migration to Lithuania and the European Union.
In 2021, almost 4,200 migrants entered Lithuania from Belarus, but most of them have since left the country.
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