An underground tunnel, approximately 11 meters long, was found near the village of Pertak in Lithuania. The discovery came after border guards noticed vibrations in the ground. Upon seeing law enforcement, a group of about 20 men fled back into Belarus.
According to VSAT reports, this tunnel did not have an exit on the Lithuanian side, making it impossible to use for illegal border crossing. Following the investigation, the tunnel was filled in, and a preliminary investigation was launched regarding the illegal crossing of the state border.
This is the second such tunnel uncovered by Lithuanian border guards in recent days.
Context
- In 2021, countries in the European Union bordering Belarus faced an escalation in illegal migration from Middle Eastern nations.
- The EU accused Alexander Lukashenko, self-proclaimed president of Belarus, of orchestrating the flows of illegal migration, stating that migrants were lured to Belarus through its diplomatic missions.
- According to Ukrainian intelligence, “recruitment centers” have been established in third countries where individuals were offered paid services to transport them to the EU, often disguised as tourists to Minsk.
- Emergency situations were declared at the borders of Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland due to the influx of migrants from Belarus.
