The Lithuanian parliament Seimas adopted a law on Tuesday (25 April) legalising the turning away of irregular migrants at the border under a state-level extreme situation regime or a state of emergency.
The parliament adopted amendments to the Law on the State Border and Protection by 86 votes in favour, eight against, and 20 abstentions.
The amendments are scheduled to enter into force on May 3 but still need to be signed by President Gitanas Nausėda.
Drafted by the Interior Ministry, the amendments consolidate the existing practice of turning away migrants at the border, which was initially introduced on the basis of the interior minister’s order issued in 2021 and was later formalised by a government resolution.
The amendments have drawn criticism from human rights organisations that say that the legislation legitimises expulsions, a practice that violates international law.
Amnesty International said last week that the law would “green-light torture”.
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry says that the amendments make a clear distinction between natural migration and the instrumentalised migration facilitated by the Belarusian regime and that the legislation is necessary to safeguard Lithuania’s national security interests.
The ministry also says that the law puts in place safeguards for vulnerable persons.
The amendments introduce a possibility to refuse entry to Lithuania during a state-level extreme situation, introduced due to an influx of foreigners, to those foreign nationals who intend to cross or have crossed the state border at places that are not designated for that purpose or at places designated for that purpose but having violated the procedure for crossing the state border.
According to the bill, the provision on turning away migrants would be applied individually to each foreigner and would not apply in certain cases to ensure entry or humanitarian access to Lithuania’s territory for foreigners fleeing military aggression or persecution.
An assessment of the need for assistance would have to be carried out for foreigners who have not been allowed to enter. If found to be in need, migrants would have to be provided with necessary urgent medical or other assistance.
Also, the amendments allow turning away irregular migrants only along the border – up to 5 km inland.
Lithuanian border guards have prevented around 20,200 people from crossing in from Belarus since August 3, 2021, when they were given the right to turn away irregular migrants. The number includes repeated attempts by the same people to cross the border.
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Source: euractiv.com
