Lithuania detains 25 migrants who crossed from Belarus

A group of 25 migrants who tried to enter Lithuania illegally from Belarus crossed the border overnight near the Padvarionys border guard post and were detained, LRT reported.

The migrants used ladders to climb over the border fence, then split into smaller groups in the woods on the Lithuanian side. Border guards carried out an operation through the night to find them, deploying officers from nearby posts, a helicopter and canine teams, Vilnius Border Guard Unit commander Darius Škarnulis said.

Authorities are assessing each migrant individually. Those for whom no grounds to remain in Lithuania are established will be returned to Belarus in accordance with the law, the State Border Guard Service said. Nearly 1,800 migrants who tried to enter the country illegally have been denied entry this year.