A.Bilotaitė: some migrants agree to return to their countries of origin, so the processes must be accelerated



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“It is very important that the processes move faster, because there are already indications and information that there are people who agree to return voluntarily. We need to organize that process quickly, ”the minister said at a press conference on Monday after the State Defense Council (VGT) meeting.

According to her, therefore, it is very important that the amendments to the legal acts are adopted in the Seimas on Tuesday.

MPs plan to pass amendments that would reduce asylum procedures to 10 days.

Among other things, the amendments proposed by the Government would restrict the free movement of migrants who cross the border illegally in Lithuania, restrict their other rights when an emergency situation is declared in the country due to the influx of migrants, and give more powers to the State Border Guard Service and Migration Department.

The government is calling for amendments on the legal status of foreigners to be considered with special urgency, so it is scheduled to present the draft amendment to the law on Tuesday and vote on its adoption later.

Former President of the Constitutional Court Dainius Žalimas comments 15 minutes called these amendments manifestly unconstitutional.

Furthermore, “the proposed amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners essentially deprive foreigners who have not been granted asylum of the right to appeal, that is, the unconstitutionally restricted right of a person to a fair trial, which it cannot be restricted even in a state of emergency. “

In response to these remarks, Interior Minister A.Bilotaitė stated that in Lithuania “the migration system is being used”, so changes are necessary and important.

The situation is extreme.

“It just came to our attention then.” This is not a normal migration, it is not a normal migration route, it is a hybrid war against us, so the response must be appropriate, “he said.

For his part, Darius Kuliešius, the president’s senior adviser, said the project had been evaluated by lawyers and they “did not see those risks being mentioned.”

“After the deliberation of the Seimas, after the adoption of this legal act, he will become president. The president will eventually sign it, “said the president’s adviser.

The Interior Minister also noted that there is active cooperation with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex, which organizes migrant flights to their countries of origin.

“There are plans and algorithms,” he said.

Vice Foreign Minister Egidijus Meilūnas, for his part, said that due to the migration crisis, Minister Gabriel Landsbergis is planning a visit to Turkey and Iraq this week.

There are two objectives: the possibility of stopping the departure of potential illegal immigrants and negotiating their return.

“There are two objectives: the possibility of stopping the departure of possible illegal immigrants and negotiating their return. There would be bilateral action here. We are also actively working with partners. It must be said that this problem of illegal immigration is understood not as a problem of Lithuania, but as a challenge for the entire European Union, ”he said.

Landsbergis, who is visiting Brussels, said before the EU foreign ministers meeting that imposing additional sanctions on Belarus for inciting the migration crisis would be the fairest response from the European Union (EU).

In total, Lithuanian officials detained 1,676 migrants at the border with Belarus this year, 20 times more than last year. Many of them are from African countries and the Middle East.

Minsk claims that migrants are no longer detained on Belarusian territory due to EU sanctions.



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