Litauen
On May 19, 2025, Lithuania filed a case against Belarus at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of violating international law by allegedly orchestrating the illegal smuggling of migrants into Lithuanian territory. The lawsuit centers on Belarus's purported breaches of the U.N. Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea, and Air.
Lithuania claims that Belarusian state-owned enterprises facilitated increased flights from the Middle East and other regions, after which Belarusian security forces allegedly escorted migrants to the Lithuanian border and coerced them into crossing illegally. This action is viewed as a deliberate attempt to destabilize the region by using migrants as political tools.
In response, Lithuania is seeking full compensation for damages, including costs linked to border reinforcement. The suit follows years of rising migrant flows since 2021 and unsuccessful bilateral negotiations. The European Union has accused Belarus and Russia of attempting to destabilize the region through such tactics.
Belarus has not responded publicly to the claims. However, exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has backed Lithuania's legal action as a necessary step to stop Minsk's pressure tactics on Europe.
