After the Ombudsman’s report on tortured migrants, Kasčiūnas’ response: we will also have something to say to the ECHR

According to L. Kasčiūnas, the report of the Seimas ombudsman is not objective, it does not take into account the causes of the migration crisis and the fact that the entire flow of arrivals is organized by the Belarusian regime and is seen as a hybrid attack. .

“First of all, we have to go back to the fact that we didn’t invite those people here, it was an organized process,” he said. – It is observed that we supposedly invite such people as guests and treat them with such disrespect. But things were different. We have become hostages of the situation and we are behaving in the way that we could and the opportunities that have been offered to us ”.

According to him, the fact that migrants themselves often abuse the situation is not taken into account at all.

“Why, for example, we do not take into account the cases in which the migrants only wanted to travel. They called an ambulance, deprived our citizens of services at that time and went to the hospital to get there, to be distracted. And none of those stories, “he said. – Internal order was maintained in terms of cleanliness, hygiene. There is nothing in the report either. I would say that at this point I lack objectivity, sense of context. After all, we are talking about people who they have illegally crossed the Lithuanian border and we have accepted them ”.

In addition, the demands and complaints of migrants are usually very similar, so the interviewee suspects that they know well what to say, which is why their surveys, on which the report is based in part, are not a reliable source of information . .

The ECHR will also have something to say

When asked whether human rights violations could not have a negative effect on the attitude of the international community towards Lithuania, L. Kasčiūnas stressed that all problems were being addressed.

“I will not comment that someone can take advantage of something,” said the president of NSGK in response to a question. The system is already in place. If we had not decided, combined, then I would have understood that the criticism could be justified, but we are deciding. “

“I understand that there would be a humanitarian catastrophe in the neighborhood and we might have to react differently. But now we see what is happening here,” he added.

L. Kasčiūnas believes that Lithuania is not threatened with lost cases at the European Court of Human Rights.

“The ECHR is adequate on many issues and it will understand the situation, the context, the organized things, the influx, the capabilities of Lithuania, I think it will also be appreciated. We will have arguments to answer why this is the case. It is not necessary to think that cases will start at a door. We will also have something to say. We will also have arguments on our side, “he said.

Missing suggestions

He was also bothered by the fact that human rights organizations criticizing Lithuania’s actions did not offer real solutions.

“The ombudsman said that building a fence in the sense of seeking asylum is a bad decision. Now imagine a situation without a physical barrier, we would not stop that illegal migration, because that is also the reversal of illegal activities. What would happen to the people then? Who should take care of people? Lithuania? Where does the capacity come from? Do we want to open the way for migration to the West, or do the Germans have to deal with them? ”L. Kasčiūnas called the questions for which he has not heard the answers.

Speaking about the controversial rollback policy, the NSGK president said that it was not only necessary to protect the borders and the Lithuanian people, but also the migrants themselves.

“Reversing protects, it is a sign of not driving here. Then there will be less tragic destinies of people if illegal migration decreases, if Lithuania protects its border.” It protects other people who planned to go here, from a tragic destiny, from the human trafficking, real torture if they get into a criminal network, “he said.

Raskevičius criticized the ombudsman of the Seimas

Speaking with Delfi, the chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the Seimas, Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius, criticized the Office of the Ombudsman of the Seimas, according to him, the report was published quite late.

“The controllers released the report today, more than two months after they shared that information on social media,” Delfi told TV Raskevičius. “It is very disappointing that the public authorities, who should carry out very prompt and impartial human rights monitoring, do not publish these results and recommendations until two months after their publication date.”

He said that it was necessary to avoid any violation of human rights in the fight against the migration crisis, but many of the problems now announced were already solved.

“Of course, even in the afternoon, when most of the migrants have already been removed from temporary accommodation, their conditions are being intentionally improved and work is being done on them.

“It is very disappointing and I hope it is possible to learn from the situation that the institutions will not bureaucratically respond to the crisis situation, without seeking to divide and further aggravate the situation, but will be able to react quickly when necessary.” “said the politician.

According to the interlocutor, the contribution of the Seimas ombudsman was lost when discussing important issues related to the migration crisis in the committee.

“I can share my experience. We have been discussing these issues in committee for a good month and had our first hearings on this issue on September 8th. “Before that day, I personally asked Mr. Augustinas Normantas (ed. – Ombudsman of the Seimas) to provide that information to the committee. Mr. Normantas provided a brief three-page summary of the difficult living conditions in those places of temporary accommodation “. Said TV Raskevičius.

According to the interlocutor, the pace of work at the Seimas Ombudsman’s Office, which employs 40 people and plays a very important role in guaranteeing human rights and preventing torture, is inadequate.

“When we are in a crisis, when the ceiling is burning and you have to put it out here and now, instead of waiting for everyone else to solve the problem somehow and then come and say in the right tone, you know, everything it was very bad, “said TV Raskevičius.

MIA: information is out of date

In a press release distributed to the media, the Ministry of the Interior indicates that the information provided in the report of the Ombudsman of the Seimas is out of date.

“The situation regarding the accommodation of illegal immigrants has changed and changes every day, problems are being solved very quickly in cooperation with the Red Cross and other organizations.

Regularly, every Thursday, representatives of the Ministries of the Interior, Social Security and Labor, Education, Science and Sports, Health and the State Health Insurance Fund meet with experts from the Red Cross and other NGOs, discuss problems, listen to recommendations and seek solutions promptly.

Each week, the representatives of the Ministry of the Interior also met with the representatives of the municipalities that temporarily welcomed the migrants and discussed medical care, catering and other issues.

Thus, many decisions have been made and the situation has radically changed. Migrants have been evicted from both municipal facilities and the Rūdninkai camp, and now the Ministry of Social Affairs takes care of the most vulnerable people, ”the Interior Ministry report reads.

Attention is also drawn to the fact that Lithuania is fighting the consequences of human trafficking organized by the Belarusian regime and, in accordance with the country’s capabilities, provides basic living conditions for those who have entered our country illegally.

“The attention of the international community is necessary to the causes of the migratory crisis, which are in Belarus. The facilitation of artificial visas, special flights from countries affected by conflicts, the promotion of human trafficking and misinformation are Deliberate actions of the Belarusian regime, which mislead people, encourage them to use illegal migration routes and sentence them to harsh prosecutions.

The EU adopts a common position: illegal border crossings, illegal migration organized by the regime are unacceptable for Europe and will not be tolerated. Furthermore, Lithuania emphasizes that it is forbidden to cross the EU’s external border in illegal places, so people trying to enter the EU will not be admitted or will be returned to their countries of origin, and there are legal ways to apply for asylum. ”Announces the Ministry of the Interior.