According to Euronews, as tensions rise in the region, the Lithuanian authorities have strengthened border control along the Lithuanian-Russian border, which runs through the Neman River.
The proposal by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) to reinstate border control checkpoints on internal borders has been supported by the Lithuanian government ahead of the NATO summit was scheduled for July 11-12.
Checks will be resumed from July 7 to July 13 and will be implemented at the border crossing points between Lithuania and Latvia, as well as Poland. The checks will also apply to individuals traveling by sea and on internal Schengen flights.
Access to Poland and Latvia will be granted through main roads, while temporary border control checkpoints will be established.
Most residents of Panyamune and neighboring Lithuanian towns avoid traveling to Russia. However, some individuals, like Natasha, have relatives on the other side of the bridge.
"It's easier when your relatives live in Europe; that's understandable. But it doesn't always work out that way. Our elderly grandmothers, whom we want to see, are not to blame for what has happened. So, we go to the border, even though we understand perfectly well that recent changes may prevent us from crossing,"expressed Natasha, a resident of Panyamune.
In light of the ongoing NATO summit in Vilnius and concerns of potential provocations, Lithuania has implemented stricter security measures at its state borders. Rustam Lyubaev, the head of the Border Guard Service, stated that they have heightened surveillance to the maximum level and introduced various measures, including deploying additional personnel, installing new technical systems, and collaborating with national and international partners.
Increased Vigilance at the Belarus Border and Challenges Faced by Migrants
Heightened vigilance is also observed at the border with Belarus, where a migrant route is prevalent. In the past year, only 34 asylum requests were received, indicating a lack of individual assessments at the border, according to Emilia Svojote, a member of the Lithuanian non-governmental organization Sienos grupe.
Ahmed, a refugee from Iraq, shared his experience of attempting to seek asylum in Lithuania multiple times before being granted refuge.
"Living in my country is very dangerous. I tried to come to Lithuania three times, but each time the police caught me and forced me to return to Minsk," Ahmed revealed.
Activists argue that these small numbers of asylum requests do not reflect the true reality. While the government claims to have halted migration, it only reports the number of people denied asylum, leaving success stories untold. Emilia Svojote from Sienos grupe, an NGO assisting migrants at the border, emphasized that people continue to migrate despite the government's assertions.
Ongoing Vigilance and Potential Provocations on the Eastern Flank of Europe
With the threat of provocations persisting during and after the NATO summit, border guards on the Eastern flank of Europe remain in a state of readiness. Euronews correspondent Magdalena Hodovnik reported from Panyamune that the risk of provocations necessitates the border guards to maintain their high alert status.
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