Migrants change tactic as Belarus ‘helps dig tunnels or turns blind eye’ | World | News

Migrants are attempting to enter an EU country via tunnels allegedly built with help from an ally of Russia. The chief of Lithuania‘s State Border Guard Service (VSAT), Rustamas Liubajevas, told broadcaster 15min that his staff had found scores of places where underground routes were being dug between his country and Belarus.

It comes after VSAT reported discovering a tunnel leading from Belarus into southern Lithuania. He said of the attempts: “Without logistical support from the Belarusian border guards, this would not be possible.”

Belarus has long weaponised migration, with the country’s authoritarian ruler, Alexander Lukashenko, encouraging migrants to use his country to cross into the European Union via the Belarusian border with Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

Mr Liubajevas claimed the Belarusian authorities were either turning a blind eye to or actively helping migrants to dig the tunnels.

He added that migrant smuggling attempts through tunnels have increased this year.

The chief said similar methods were used on the border between Belarus and Poland.

While Belarus and Russia are close allies, Lukashenko has so far kept his country out of Putin’s war with Ukraine.

Lukashenko allowed Russia to use the country he has ruled since 1994 as a base from which to launch its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

But Minsk has been reluctant to get drawn into the war unless Belarus is attacked.

The Belarusian leader is reported to have told Russian envoys last weekend that there was “no need” for Belarus to be “drawn into the war”.

As reported by The Japan Times, he said: “We also don’t want to fight Ukrainians. That’s why our position is peaceful.”

Mr Liubajevas’s allegation of Belarusian collusion in irregular migration into the EU might suggest Lukashenko wants to continue efforts to add to the migrant crisis affecting the bloc.