Lithuania takes Belarus to top UN court over migrant crisis

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Lithuania has lodged a case against Belarus at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over "deliberately orchestrating a migrant crisis" in violation of international law, local media reported Monday.

Lithuania’s case evolves around alleged breaches by Belarus of its obligations under the UN Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, Lithuania's state-run public broadcaster LRT reported, citing the Foreign Ministry.

"Since 2021, Lithuania has been facing an unprecedented increase in illegal migration from Belarus,” the ministry said in a statement.

"Evidence gathered by Lithuanian institutions confirms the direct involvement of the Belarusian regime in organizing the flow of migrants," it added.

The case also accused Belarusian security forces of escorting migrants to the Lithuanian border to cross illegally.

The Baltic country submitted the case following months of bilateral negotiations which "failed to resolve the dispute," said the report.