Lithuania launches investigation into alleged cover-up of migrant attack on border guards

Lithuanian border guards are under scrutiny for allegedly concealing an incident where a group of migrants attacked border guards near the Belarus border on July 26. The attack occurred in the Kapčiamiestis outpost area in the Lazdijai district.

Minister of the Interior Martynas Katelynas stated on Wednesday that he was only informed of the incident's full details that day, despite a formal notification about a tunnel being thwarted. He learned about the attack through news reports and social media, indicating that crucial information was withheld from him.

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I understood that I was not provided with all the information about this incident at the border.

"I understood that I was not provided with all the information about this incident at the border," Katelynas said during a press conference. He summoned the head of the State Border Guard Service (VSAT), Rustamas Liubajevas, to provide details. Liubajevas acknowledged responsibility for the inadequate assessment and reporting of the incident's significance to the minister.

Following the meeting, Katelynas ordered an official investigation into the actions of the border guard leadership to objectively assess their conduct. Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė also expressed strong disapproval, calling the situation "unacceptable." She has tasked the minister with thoroughly investigating all circumstances, including why information about the incident, which likely occurred over a week prior, was only revealed to the public and political leadership on Wednesday.

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Indeed unacceptable. I do not want to rush to conclusions, perhaps there are some objective reasons why this was not done, perhaps internal investigations were started, I don't know. But at first glance, the situation does not seem appropriate.