Estonian defmin: Hybrid war ongoing against Lithuania

TALLINN - Lithuania is not facing a migration crisis but a hybrid war, Estonian Minister of Defense Kalle Laanet said at the government's press conference on Thursday.

Laanet added that the goal of the Belarusian regime is not congesting the border but rather causing instability in Lithuania.

Prime Minister Kaja Kallas likewise said that this is an attempt to destabilize the Lithuanian society.

"We need to observe what's happening in Lithuania because the same thing could happen here," Kallas said.

Laanet said that unrest has already emerged at refugees' accommodations as well as the local communities. He added that there are people among the migrants whose behavior appears to indicate that they are gathering information for the Belarusian regime. Laanet noted that the crisis in Lithuania affects all Baltic states as well as the area more broadly.

Laanet said that the situation has been discussed by the three Baltic states' defense ministers and a proposal has also been made to hold a meeting on the same issue between the heads of government. He noted that in order to alleviate the situation, international aid should immediately be sought from Europe's allies as well as from the United States. A proposal has also been made to initiate the activities for establishing international sanctions against the people facilitating irregular migration.