EU nation takes legal action against Belarus for EUR200mn

(MENAFN)
Lithuania has filed a case against Belarus at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), seeking more than €200 million ($227 million) in damages for what it claims was a deliberately instigated migrant crisis. The lawsuit, reported by BNS on Monday and citing the Lithuanian Ministry of Justice, accuses Belarus of violating international law by failing to secure its border, resulting in thousands of illegal crossings into EU territory.

The migrant influx began in 2021, with Belarus serving as a major route for migrants from the Middle East attempting to reach the European Union. While Poland was the most severely affected, Lithuania and Latvia were also impacted. Belarus has denied orchestrating the crisis and instead accused EU nations of abusing migrants and violating their rights.

Lithuania’s legal claim includes costs related to border protection measures between 2021 and 2023, such as the construction of fences, surveillance upgrades, and the deployment of large numbers of personnel. The Justice Ministry noted that the estimated damage of over €200 million is preliminary and could be adjusted.

In response to the migrant wave, Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland all declared states of emergency and began building border barriers in 2021. Poland is reportedly considering joining Lithuania’s case at the ICJ.

Since the crisis began, Lithuanian authorities say they have stopped 23,600 illegal border crossings. However, a 2022 Amnesty International report accused Lithuania of using racially discriminatory and unlawful tactics against migrants, particularly those from Africa and the Middle East. The EU allegedly ignored these violations.

Relations between Belarus and the EU deteriorated following Belarus' disputed 2020 presidential election and ensuing protests. The EU has accused Minsk of retaliating against Western sanctions by flying in migrants from countries like Iraq and Syria and directing them toward the EU border. Belarus, in turn, has labeled the EU's actions a form of "hybrid warfare," citing support for opposition figures and media outlets.

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