Lithuanian intermin, Austrian president visit Lithuanian-Belarusian border

VILNIUS – Lithuanian Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovic and Austrian President Alexander Van Der Bellen visited the Padvarionys Frontier Station on Lithuania's border with Belarus on Thursday and discussed the migration situation at the EU's eastern border and common security challenges.

"Our key goal is to ensure the security of Lithuania and the entire region. Therefore, we are paying the utmost attention to this task. The State Border Guard Service is constantly modernizing its technical base by installing advanced surveillance, control, and border inspection systems," Kondratovic was quoted as saying in a press release issued on Thursday.

"However, it is necessary to continue investing in the latest technologies to ensure more effective state border protection. We must be prepared to counter all threats, from possible provocations and hybrid attacks to illegal migration and smuggling. Cooperation and constant attention to border security remain key tasks," he stressed.

According to the minister, an increase in the flow of illegal migrants has been observed at the border with Belarus this year.

"During the first months of this year, Lithuanian border guards prevented more than 1,200 people from illegally crossing the state border. Since 2021, more than 24,000 such cases have been recorded," the statement said.

According to the ministry, the entire external border of Lithuania is currently monitored using advanced technologies, and 90 percent of border guards are equipped with NATO-standard weapons, while the renovation of the patrol track is actively ongoing.