Use of illegal migration by the Belarusian regime to exert political pressure is unacceptable - Karins

RIGA - The use of illegal migration by the Belarusian authorities to create political pressure is unacceptable and joint efforts must be made to stop it, expressing support for the Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Simonyte, Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) emphasized.

As the Prime Minister's press secretary Sandris Sabajevs informed LETA, on Friday Karins participated in a remote meeting of the Baltic prime ministers, where together with Lithuanian Prime Minister Simonye and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas discussed the situation on the Lithuanian-Belarusian border, possible international solutions and possible joint solutions to curb the flow of illegal migration at the eastern border of the European Union (EU).

The Prime Minister of Latvia also pointed out the need for mutual support and informed about Latvia's plans to accelerate the construction of the eastern border and strengthen its security. At the meeting, the Prime Ministers agreed to continue close cooperation and regular exchange of information at all levels.

The prime ministers also agreed to issue a joint statement condemning the hybrid threat posed by the regime of Belarus' authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, using illegal immigration as a means of undermining the integrity of the EU's external borders.

The PMs calls for greater support for Lithuania, emphasizing that the protection of the EU's external borders is a shared responsibility of the EU as a whole. The Prime Ministers of the Baltic States also call for the extension of existing sanctions against the Belarussian regime.