Lithuania records no illegal border crossings, Latvia, Poland see rise in migrant numbers

VILNIUS – No irregular migrants attempted to cross into Lithuania from Belarus on Wednesday, but their activity increased at the Latvian and Polish borders, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Thursday.

Latvia reported 20 attempts at illegal border crossings on Wednesday, and 68 irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Tuesday, according to the latest available information.

Lithuanian border guards have turned away a total of 31 migrants so far this year, the lowest number since the wave of irregular migration from Belarus began in the summer of 2021.

More than 2,500 irregular migrants were barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places last year.

The influx of irregular migrants to the EU's eastern member states from Belarus began in 2021 and is blamed by the West on the Minsk regime.

The West accuses the Minsk regime of orchestrating the influx of migrants.