The State Border Guard Service of Lithuania (VSAT) has revealed that a total of 329 migrants who have entered the country since the beginning of the influx of migrants last year remain in Lithuania.
In this regard, VSAT spokesman Giedrius Mišutis told the Baltic News Service (BNS) that these migrants are currently in Lithuania, but the number changes every day as they leave, stressing that “they are melting like snow in spring”, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
He also emphasised that this year so far, 640 foreigners have left Lithuania voluntarily to return to their countries of origin, while 15 others have been returned by force.
“Most of them, of course, are Iraqi citizens,” Mišutis also noted.
Foreigners who enter Lithuania are accommodated in Lithuanian immigration centres until their asylum claims are examined. During this period, they have the right to move freely through Lithuania.
In cases when their request is rejected, they must return to their countries of origin within five years.
According to Mišutis, this year, around 2,600 migrants have left their place of residence in Lithuania.
Last year alone, almost 4,200 migrants entered Lithuania from Belarus, so Lithuania calls the influx of migrants from Belarus a hybrid attack orchestrated by the Minsk regime.
Previously, Lithuania’s border guards revealed that they had turned away a total of 15,082 illegal migrants who tried to enter the country from Belarus since August last year.
Data also show that only on September 17 of this year, the Lithuanian state border guard prevented 109 migrants from entering through unauthorised countries from Belarus.
In order to deal with irregular migration, at the beginning of September, the Lithuanian authorities decided to prolong the state of emergency along the entire border section with Belarus and Russia.
At the same time, as explained by the Minister of the Interior of Lithuania, Agne Bilotaitė, the country has considered stricter measures for the citizens of Belarus, similar to those already being applied to the Russians.
At the end of September, a total of 153 citizens of Russia were also detained by the State Border Service of Lithuania.
Lithuania has also presented a proposal regarding the conclusion of bilateral international and inter-institutional agreements with Belarus.
According to Minister Bilotaitė, Belarus constantly used immigrants as a tool of political pressure. Thus, even the officials of Belarus are contributing with their active actions in the organisation of the illegal migration crisis and damage to the physical barrier.
SOURCE: Schengen Visa Info
