Razor wire is seen in front of a Belarusian border marking pole in Druskininkai, Lithuania
VILNIUS, Dec 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Lithuanian Parliament voted on Tuesday to extend the state of emergency at its border with Belarus for another month.
The extension, until Jan 15, 2022, was supported by 102 deputies, with no votes against or abstentions.
The state of emergency will apply to the five-kilometer strip along Lithuania’s border with Belarus and in the migrant camps. Among other things, the measure restricts access for rights organizations to observe pushbacks of irregular migrants.
The right to receive and disseminate information, correspond, conduct telephone conversations and otherwise communicate will continue to be restricted for aliens who have entered Lithuania during the state of emergency.
The Speaker of Parliament, Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, said that “the threats that led to the introduction of these measures to safeguard national security and public order are still present.”
The state of emergency was originally declared on Nov. 10 in response to the escalating migrant crisis along Poland’s border with Belarus, and was to expire on Dec 9.
Almost 4,200 migrants have crossed into Lithuania from Belarus so far this year, and around 7,900 more have been turned away from the border, the country’s national radio and television LRT reported. — NNN-XINHUA
