Lithuanian border guards block 22 irregular migrants in one day

Lithuanian border guards prevented 22 irregular migrants from entering the country from Belarus over the past 24 hours, the State Border Guard Service (VSAT) reported Monday, according to public broadcaster LRT.

Latvia’s border service also turned away 48 migrants on the same day, while Polish authorities reported no attempts to cross illegally during the period.

Since the start of the Belarus-orchestrated migration crisis in 2021, Lithuanian officials have blocked 24,900 irregular migrants from entering the country. Last year, guards stopped over 1,600 attempts, while 307 have been recorded so far this year.

The influx of migrants toward Eastern EU borders began in 2021, with Western governments accusing Minsk of deliberately facilitating illegal crossings.