Migrant crisis: what awaits those detained in Lithuania and how to deal with those who want to stay in Europe?
This year, more than 4 thousand people entered Lithuania illegally. Reluctant to return to their country of origin are held in alien centers.
Some of them complain about living conditions, restrictions on freedom of movement and the like. Non-governmental organizations and international organizations are also critical of this. Obstacle and the process of processing asylum applications, the number of satisfied applications.
In addition, at the end of the year, the Seimas adopted amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and may be considered a center for aliens for up to a year.
In order to control illegal migration, people are not allowed into the territory of Lithuania, and those who are admitted are pushed back to Belarus.
Since August, more than 8,000 people have been turned over and not allowed into Lithuania. It is stated that such a policy will be maintained.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) notes that there are questions about the compliance of Lithuania’s actions with European Union and international law. Our country is called upon to move towards international obligations and compliance and to work for human rights.
537 people returned home
According to the data of the Ministry of the Interior (MIA), currently 3,285 aliens have entered MIGRIS illegally and entered the aliens registration centers.
According to Mindaugas Bajarūnas, the head of the communication department of the Ministry of the Interior, 56 migrants from Lithuania were forcibly forced.
482 people were returned to their country of origin voluntarily with state financial support.
“Of these, 31 migrants agreed to return voluntarily with the help of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The majority – 310 migrants – benefited from state support (300 euros), the rest benefited from a recently increased lump sum of 1,000 euros, ”the ministry spokesman said.
On Sunday, the first charter flight took off from Vilnius Airport, returning 98 migrants who agreed to do so voluntarily from Lithuania to Iraq.
Photo by Vidmantas Balkūnas / 15min photo / A group of migrants who have introduced themselves to the state border of Lithuania near the village of Piesčiai
“In order to secure the voluntary returns that were illegally present in Lithuania in December, higher one-time benefits were offered to migrants who agreed to leave voluntarily from the 8th day (persons over 14 years of age – EUR 1,000, younger persons – EUR 500). The fourth Iraqi consular identification mission, which issued 80 travel documents, has also recently taken place.
At the same time, Lithuania is discussing with the European Commission the expedition (both voluntary and forced) of Iraqi citizens who have crossed the Belarusian border illegally and are currently in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, ”said M. Bajarūnas.
He said that ways were being sought to return other third-country nationals, who could also take the opportunity to leave voluntarily for a higher benefit.
The State Border Guard Service also applies to the consular offices of third countries for the issuance of the necessary travel documents, searches for possible travel routes and carries out other return procedures.
It is estimated that the cost of maintaining one migrant per day is about 30 euros, or about 11 thousand euros. per year.
“There are no plans to change the policy of returning aliens crossing the state border of the Republic of Lithuania illegally,” said M. Bajarūnas.
Complaints are not convincing
Laurynas Kasčiūnas, the chairman of the National Security and Defense Committee (NSGC) of the Seimas, when asked what awaits the persons who do not want to be removed voluntarily, said that various ways would be sought to return them.
He explained that we will reach an agreement with the states whose citizens have entered Lithuania illegally.
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