EU Summons Belarus Envoy Over Migrant Stream to Lithuania

EU Summons Belarus Envoy Over Migrant Stream to Lithuania
Lithuanian and European Union flags flutter at the Lithuanian border guards unit headquarters near Adutiskis, Lithuania, on June 15, 2021. Ints Kalnins/Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

BRUSSELS—The European Union has summoned the Belarusian envoy in Brussels and held talks with the Iraqi government after accusing Belarus of using illegal migrants, largely Iraqis, as a political weapon against EU sanctions imposed on Minsk.

A spokesperson said the European Commission summoned the envoy on Wednesday in protest over a refugee problem that Lithuania says Belarus has orchestrated on its border in retaliation for EU sanctions.