The Seimas declares a state of emergency due to the threat posed by the mass influx of migrants

 

Press release, 9 November 2021 

 

In view of the critical situation in the country due to the mass influx of migrants and owing to the recent criminal activity and hybrid attacks by the Belarusian regime against the Republic of Poland, the Seimas decided to declare a state of emergency for the period of one month starting from 10 November 2021. This is the first declaration of the state of emergency since the restoration of Lithuania’s independence.

 

A total of 122 members of the Seimas voted in favour of the relevant Seimas Resolution (draft No XIVP-1083), with one vote against.

Photo by Olga Posaškova, Office of the Seimas

 

The state of emergency will be introduced at the state border of the Republic of Lithuania with the Republic of Belarus and cover the border stretch and 5 km inland as well as the locations of and 200 meters around the migrant accommodation facilities in Pabradė, Medininkai, Kybartai, Rukla, and Naujininkai urban district in Vilnius.

 

While presenting the Resolution, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, pointed out that the intention of the document was to introduce merely slight constitutional restrictions that pertain to the rights of individuals and are strictly necessary to handle the emergency. ‘Even faced with this unprecedented crisis and respecting our commitment to protect our state and the external border of the European Union and to ensure the safety of our people, we must not forget our duty to be humane, to comply with our international obligations, and to take care of the foreigners already residing in Lithuania,’ stressed the Speaker of the Seimas.

 

According to Ingrida Šimonytė, Prime Minister, restrictions will differentiate between migrants who have crossed the border illegally, on the one hand, and Lithuania’s residents, on the other.

 

Under the adopted Resolution, the right to receive and disseminate information, communicate in writing, have telephone conversations and otherwise communicate by mobile and internet communications will be restricted subject to decision of officers of the State Border Guard Service. These restrictions will only apply to migrants who have illegally entered Lithuania and/or illegally stay in migrant accommodation facilities and will translate into limiting access to means of communication, if necessary, except for cases where the said individuals employ these means to contact the state institutions and agencies of the Republic of Lithuania.

 

Travel restrictions will apply to Lithuania’s residents wishing to travel to the territory under the state of emergency. The rights of individuals wishing to declare their place of residence on this territory will also be restricted, and so will be the right to hold assemblies and the freedom of assembly on the territory under the state of emergency.

 

‘No inconveniences will be caused to local residents: they will be able to move as freely as before’, Ms Šimonytė said in answer to the questions on the impact on the local population. According to her, the State Border Guard Service will easily handle the people coming for, say, work purposes, allowing them to pass upon inspection of the safety of their movement.

 

During the emergency situation, the following emergency measures will apply: use of the monetary funds of the state reserve; strengthened state border security; ban on movement of unauthorised vehicles on the territory of the border stretch (except for special purpose vehicles and vehicles engaged in international carriage of goods); entry ban on the territory of the border stretch (not applicable to residents and owners of real estate on the territory); prohibition to change the place of permanent residence during the emergency period; prohibition of assembly; and inspection of vehicles, persons, and their luggage.

 

With enhanced protection of the state border in place, persons intending to cross the state border in unidentified locations and persons who are present on the territory of the state of emergency after having already crossed the border may not be admitted to the territory of the country. This will be achieved by employing dissuasive measures and mental coercion, if necessary, i.e. when the individuals concerned do not comply with the requirements or instructions of authorised officials. If such individuals clearly and factually put the life or health of the official or other persons in danger by their action or by employing their possessions, adequate physical coercion and other special measures specified in the laws of the Republic of Lithuania shall be employed in order to ensure their non-entry into the territory of the country.

 

The Resolution adopted by the Seimas will allow for the use of the Lithuanian Armed Forces during the state of emergency.

 

Rimas Rudaitis, Chief Specialist, Press Office, Information and Communication Department, tel. +370 5 239 6132, e-mail: [email protected]