The policy of turning away irregular migrants, enshrined in law by the Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday, is immoral, Jūratė Juškaitė, head of the Lithuanian Centre for Human Rights, has said adding that the centre, together with other non-governmental organisations, will ask the president to veto respective legislative amendments.
“In our view, these amendments contradict both international law and our own commitments. They are immoral and pose a threat to the life and health of individuals who attempt to cross into Lithuania and seek asylum,” Juškaitė told BNS.
“Together with other NGOs and academics, we will ask President Gitanas Nausėda to veto these amendments and perhaps the president will listen to our arguments,” she added.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Lithuanian parliament Seimas enshrined in law the existing policy of turning away irregular migrants at the border under a state-level extreme situation regime or a state of emergency.
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Juškaite warned that with such legal regulation, Lithuania would find itself in a position where it will “risk violating international law”, which could lead to litigation in international courts.
“We view the presidential office as a certain institution of last resort whose word will be decisive,” she added.
Lithuania started turning away migrants at the border with Belarus on the basis of the interior minister’s order issued in August 2021. Later, the practice was formalised by a respective government resolution.
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