Data from Frontex shows a threefold increase in irregular crossings along the eastern borders route in 2024, although there has been a notable decrease in such crossings in early 2025.

This legal action occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions following Belarus's controversial presidential election in 2020, which sparked widespread protests and international condemnation.

As of now, Belarus has not officially responded to Lithuania's legal actions or the allegations made against it.

Lithuania has initiated legal proceedings against Belarus at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of facilitating migrant smuggling into Lithuania.

This migration crisis, which began in 2021, was triggered when Belarus announced it would no longer prevent migrants from crossing into EU countries amid rising sanctions and political tensions.

In response, Belarus denies any organized involvement in the migration crisis, claiming that the incidents are the result of independent actions by refugees.

In an effort to bolster border security, Lithuania has allocated 152 million euros for infrastructure, significantly more than the funds designated for its border with Kaliningrad.

Lithuanian authorities have described the situation as a significant threat to national security and public order, having thwarted over 23,600 attempts to illegally cross the border.

The legal referral accuses Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and his administration of committing crimes against humanity by targeting civilians to force them to flee the country.

The Lithuanian government characterizes Belarus's actions as a 'widespread and systematic attack' on civilians aimed at eliminating dissent against the regime.

Reports from Lithuanian authorities indicate that migrants have been abandoned in harsh conditions, lacking food and water, and facing threats of violence.

Consequently, hundreds of thousands of Belarusian citizens have been forcibly displaced to neighboring countries, including Lithuania.