The construction of a fence along Lithuania’s border with Belarus was completed at the end of last week, EPSO-G, the state-owned energy group responsible for the project, reported on August 29.
The barrier, consisting of a fence and razor wire, was installed in sections stretching approximately 502 kilometers.
“The team of contractors mobilised by EPSO-G installed the last planned segments of the fence at the border with Belarus last weekend,” Antanas Bubnelis, spokesman for the company, said.
“The project team continues its work, which includes maintenance tasks, elimination of minor barrier deficiencies, rehabilitation of roads and construction sites, management of project documentation. Today, we will report about the progress of the project to the governmental supervisory commission,” he added.
Lithuania and Belarus share a border of 679 kilometers. This includes 100 kilometers running along rivers and lakes.
Lithuania has decided to build a four-metre fence with razor wire along its border with Belarus in a bid to stave off irregular migration from the neighbouring country.
Almost 4,200 irregular migrants crossed into Lithuania from Belarus last year, most of them from the Middle East and Africa. Vilnius has accused the Minsk government of trafficking migrants in order to pressure the European Union.
Lithuanian border guards have pushed back more than 13,000 people since August 3, 2021, when they were instructed not to let migrants into the country. The number includes repeated attempts by the same people to cross the border.
The State Border Guard Service (VSAT) has said that Belarusian border guards continue to transport migrants to the EU border and direct them to sections without the fence. (LRT/Business World Magazine)