DISINFO: Lithuanian border guards use violence against migrants, including abandoning pregnant women
SUMMARY
Lithuanian border guards often use violence against foreigners forcing them to leave the country. Despite this, the EU authorities ignore the facts of abuse of illegal immigrants. [...]
On August 10, Lithuanian border guards carried an unconscious pregnant woman on an improvised cloth stretcher and left her on the border line. The [Belarusian] border protection department qualified the actions of the Lithuanian colleagues as "deliberately leaving a person in danger without the possibility of receiving the necessary medical assistance." [...] [Belarusian] border service agencies provided first aid on the spot. A foreign woman in grave condition was taken to the Postavy Central Hospital.
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The behavior of the Lithuanian security officials contradicts all laws and human values.
RESPONSE
Disinformation about Lithuania and influx of migrants via Belarus.
Claims that Lithuanian border guards are using violence against migrants are not supported by evidence. Allegations that Lithuanian border guards abandoned an unconscious pregnant woman are false and are spread intentionally by the Belarusian institutions.
Lithuanian border protection agency has shared video footage, showing that the woman feigned fainting and shortly after was able to stand and walk into the territory of Belarus. No Belarusian officials were seen coming close to provide any kind of assistance. Lithuanian border guards did not take upon themselves to determine whether the woman was pregnant.
There is a Lithuanian policy to take care of vulnerable / children where the Lithuanian Red Cross is a partner including in providing training to officials. In July 2021 Lithuanian authorities took to hospital several minors who have crossed the border with their parents. According to their testimony, the children were given pshyco-active substances by masked individuals who escorted them in Belarus.
In July and August 2021, Lithuania has faced unprecedented migration crisis with sharp increase of arrivals of migrants and asylum seekers coming from the Middle East and Africa and entering Lithuania via the border with Belarus.
Lithuania officially linked the influx of irregular migrants to the actions of Belarusian authorities. The minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis noted that “Lukashenko seeks to weaponise migration to weaken our resolve for sanctions”.
On her visit to Lithuania Commissioner Ylva Johansson stressed that the situation at Lithuanian-Belarusian border was an act of agression from the Lukashenka regime. The European Union has supported Lithuania in its efforts to protect the external EU border and ensure adequate conditions for people crossing the border. Read more here.
This disinformation claim appeared in the same article as allegation that the EU applies double standards on migration issues to pressure Minsk.