Migrant tunnels in Lithuania direct suspicion towards Minsk
Lithuania's border guards have discovered tunnels through which migrants are trying to enter the country from Belarus. Analysts see them as a means to destabilize the country.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has denied facilitating migration flows to neighboring states, including Lithuania. However, border guards in Lithuania have discovered 12 underground tunnels along the Belarusian border, with some extending up to 25 meters. These tunnels are suspected to be part of Belarus' strategy to foster political instability in the region.
Lithuania's border with Belarus is about 700 kilometers long, and the majority of it is fenced. Lithuania's State Border Guard Service has a ground seismic system that can detect vibrations over a long period, allowing them to apprehend migrants exiting the tunnels. So far, up to 40 migrants have been arrested after exiting such tunnels.
Lithuania's prosecutor's office is conducting a pre-trial investigation into approximately 20 people suspected of illegally digging tunnels, including charges of people smuggling. The elaborate nature of the tunnels suggests that migrants are not working alone and are receiving logistical support from Belarusian authorities. Experts believe that Belarus is intentionally causing tension at the border by creating these tunnels to weaken support for Ukraine and disrupt European unity.
This tactic is seen as a low-cost, low-risk way for authoritarian regimes to exert pressure on democratic countries facing fundamental dilemmas.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
