New barrier to rise in Europe’s east amid dispute with Belarus
- Lithuania will build a 508km-long fence to stop an unprecedented surge of migrants pouring across its border
- Officials say the arrivals are part of Belarus leader Lukashenko’s strategy to retaliate against EU sanctions over his crackdown on dissidents
Lithuania will build a 508km-long (316-mile-long) fence on its border with Belarus to stop an unprecedented wave of migrants pouring into the European Union’s east.
The arrivals are part of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s strategy to retaliate against EU sanctions against his government over his crackdown against pro-democratic opposition, Lithuanian and EU officials said. Lukashenko denies these allegations.
He has threatened to stop policing the flow of drugs, guns, people and nuclear material to the EU. Lithuania, which along with neighbour Poland is sheltering dissidents fighting to unseat Lukashenko, has taken the brunt. More than 4,000 people, mainly from Iraq, have crossed into Lithuania since June, 50 times more than in all of 2020.
“Lukashenko is using migration as a weapon,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said over the weekend. “This is a hybrid campaign by Lukashenko against the EU and the integrity of its eastern border”.
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The fence, which may cost €152 million (US$179 million), will add to barriers that have risen in Europe since 2015, when millions of Middle Eastern and African migrants came to the continent.
The government’s plan is to finish the construction by the end of next year, but officials have already warned that depends on availability of construction materials. Lawmakers voted 80-2 with two abstentions in favour of the project.