No route to western Europe: Lithuania tells Iraqis not to risk trip to Belarus
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A Lithuanian official told would-be Iraqi asylum seekers not go to travel Belarus, saying this route will not give them access to western Europe.
“Do not attempt this. You are not going to get into western Europe,” Mantas Adomenas, Lithuania Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs said in an interview with Rudaw's Bestoon Khalid on August 5.
Some 4,000 migrants, more than half of them from Iraq and many of them Kurdish, are detained in Lithuania after entering the country from Belarus. The Lithuanian government has accused Belarus of “weaponizing” migrants in a bid to force the European Union to ease sanctions.
Kurds stuck in camps in Lithuania have told Rudaw that conditions are poor – they are cold, their tents are flooded, and some have resorted to drinking toilet water.
Adomenas said he expects most of their refugee claims will be rejected. “Most of them have applied for asylum, but there is no genuine case for asylum because they do not come from war country,” he said. After their asylum cases are complete, they may face criminal charges or will have to return to Iraq. While they wait, they have no choice but to remain in the camps.
If any of the migrants wants to voluntarily go home, “we are happy to finance their way back,” said Adomenas.
“Do not attempt this. You are not going to get into western Europe,” Mantas Adomenas, Lithuania Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs said in an interview with Rudaw's Bestoon Khalid on August 5.
Some 4,000 migrants, more than half of them from Iraq and many of them Kurdish, are detained in Lithuania after entering the country from Belarus. The Lithuanian government has accused Belarus of “weaponizing” migrants in a bid to force the European Union to ease sanctions.
Kurds stuck in camps in Lithuania have told Rudaw that conditions are poor – they are cold, their tents are flooded, and some have resorted to drinking toilet water.
Adomenas said he expects most of their refugee claims will be rejected. “Most of them have applied for asylum, but there is no genuine case for asylum because they do not come from war country,” he said. After their asylum cases are complete, they may face criminal charges or will have to return to Iraq. While they wait, they have no choice but to remain in the camps.
If any of the migrants wants to voluntarily go home, “we are happy to finance their way back,” said Adomenas.