Lithuania accuses Belarus of large-scale smuggling scheme in ICJ case

Lithuania lodged a lawsuit against Belarus at the International Court of Justice on Monday, accusing the neighboring country of being involved in a significant smuggling operation. The legal action was taken to address Belarus’s alleged facilitation of migrant smuggling, with Lithuania stressing the importance of holding states accountable for using vulnerable individuals for political purposes. The case is based on the violation of the United Nations Protocol Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea, and Air. Lithuania claims that Belarus has been supporting and enabling the smuggling of migrants into Lithuania without implementing necessary protective measures at their shared border. This has led to serious repercussions for Lithuania’s sovereignty, security, public order, and the well-being of the migrants. Despite efforts to engage Belarus in dialogue, Lithuania asserts that Belarus has refused to take responsibility and address the issue effectively. The flow of migrants from Belarus, which Lithuania considers unprecedented, has been ongoing since at least 2021, with evidence suggesting the direct involvement of President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime in the scheme. The scheme is viewed as a retaliatory tactic against Lithuania and the European Union for their opposition to Lukashenko’s actions. The European Commission has approved measures for member states to counter the weaponization of migration by Russia and Belarus, recognizing the risks posed to Eastern EU countries bordering these nations. Belarus is yet to respond to the lawsuit filed by Lithuania.