The case concerns alleged violations by Belarus of the UN protocol against migrants smuggling by land, sea and air – MTS informed in Monday's statement.
Vilnius accuses Minsk of violating international obligations by enabling migrants smuggling, not protecting borders, neglecting cooperation with law enforcement agencies and disregarding migrants' rights.
Lithuania claims that these actions seriously It violated her sovereignty, security and public order, at the same time exposing people in a difficult situation to serious damage.
“The Belarusian regime must be held legal responsibility for causing a wave of illegal migration and the resulting violations of human rights,” said Lithuanian Minister of Justice Rimantas Mockus in a statement.
“Bright signal”
“We bring the case to the International Court of Justice to send a clear signal: No country can use people in a difficult situation as political pawnsH without incurring the consequences of international law, “he added.
The tensions between Lithuania and Belarus intensified in 2021 after hundreds of people – mainly from the Middle East and Africa – got from Belarus to Lithuania, Poland and Latvia.
In December 2021, the EU adopted extraordinary measures enabling the Member States that border with Belarus and Russia, a temporary suspension of asylum right in the light of the “hybrid war” used by Minsk and Moscow.
According to the European Commission in 2024, the number of people crossing the EU border in Belarus increased by 66 percent. compared to 2023.
