Overview
- Lithuania has formally submitted a case to the International Court of Justice, alleging Belarus violated the UN Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea, and Air.
- The Baltic nation claims Belarusian state-owned enterprises facilitated flights from the Middle East and that Belarusian security forces escorted migrants to the border and forced illegal crossings.
- Lithuania seeks full compensation for damages, including expenses incurred to reinforce its border against the influx of migrants.
- The case builds on years of tension, with Lithuania and the EU accusing Belarus of weaponizing migration as a political tool since 2021.
- Belarus denies the allegations, while Lithuania emphasizes the need for international accountability to deter future violations.