According to him, for the past few years, Minsk has constantly heard from neighboring EU states “absurd accusations” that Belarus allegedly facilitates illegal migration, using it as a tool of hybrid warfare.
The Belarusian side claims that the politicization of migration, the closure of border crossings, and the construction of barriers at the border will not help solve the problem. In Minsk’s view, a solution is only possible through cooperation.
However, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia hold an opposing position.
Oleg Ilgis, a representative of the Latvian permanent mission to the UN, speaking on behalf of the three Baltic states, stated that Belarus uses migrants as a weapon and conducts hybrid attacks against neighboring countries.
He emphasized that the Belarusian authorities have been deliberately using migration flows for more than five years to undermine the territorial integrity and national security of Latvia and Lithuania. According to him, Alexander Lukashenko’s regime continues to intensify its hybrid campaign.
Ilgis reported that this year alone, Latvia has prevented about 12,000 attempts to illegally cross the border.
As one of the latest examples, he cited an incident that occurred this week when a group of at least 20 migrants, accompanied by masked individuals, attempted to illegally enter Latvia from Belarus. The attempt was thwarted by the National Armed Forces (NAF).
According to Ilgis, similar cases occur in other sections of the EU’s external border with Belarus.
Speaking on behalf of the Baltic states, the diplomat condemned the deliberate use of people for political and physical pressure on neighboring states and the EU.
He stated that Lukashenko’s regime cynically exploits thousands of people from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, luring them to Belarus and facilitating their further movement into Europe.
Ilgis also reminded that Lithuania has appealed to the International Court of Justice against Belarus regarding alleged violations of the international protocol on combating the illegal import of migrants.
The Baltic states called on Minsk to cease such actions and comply with international obligations.
Masked Armed Individuals Attempted to Smuggle Migrants Across the Border
Earlier, the NAF of Latvia reported details of an incident that occurred on Monday, October 5, at the Latvian-Belarusian border.
A group of at least 20 illegal migrants, led by three masked escorts, attempted to illegally cross the border. Latvian soldiers stopped the violators.
The NAF noted that this time the provocation was particularly demonstrative and aggressive.
The individuals accompanying the migrants were armed, threatened the Latvian military, and actively pushed the group towards Latvia. According to the soldiers’ assessment made from a distance, at least one of the escorts had a pistol.
A few hours after the confrontation, masked individuals entered Latvian territory, damaged an electrical distribution cabinet, and stole surveillance cameras.
Before the border guards arrived, the violators managed to return to Belarus.