Lithuania arrested another 116 illegal migrants: "Belarus deliberately releases them because of EU sanctions"

Lithuanian authorities reported another 116 arrests of migrants illegally crossing the border from Belarus.

Lithuania says the influx of migrants has increased because Minsk deliberately released undocumented migrants in retaliation for European Union sanctions, Radio Free Europe reports.

The Lithuanian State Border Security Service announced today that the border guards fired tear gas and warning shots while a group of migrants was detained.

The latest figures bring the number of migrants detained over the past two days to 179, the service said, and a total of 938 people crossing from Belarus have been arrested this year, 12 times more than last year.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said the government had declared a state of emergency and accused Alexander Lukashenko of "using migration as a weapon to retaliate against sanctions."

The European Union imposed additional sanctions on Belarus after the authorities there arrested opposition activist Roman Protašević in Minsk, where the plane he was flying was forced to land due to a bomb threat.

Vilnius claims that the migrants, most of whom are Iraqis, have been moved to the border with Lithuania, where Belarusian border guards turn a blind eye as they cross into the EU member state.

Lithuania has been one of the loudest critics of the Belarusian leader, strongman Alexander Lukashenko, since last August, when the disputed presidential elections were held in Belarus.

Lukashenko declared victory, triggering months of protests.

The opposition claims that the elections were rigged, and the West has refused to recognize the results of the vote.

The Baltic state gave refuge to Svetlana Tihanovska, who supporters say was the actual winner of the election.

Vilnius has also become a hub for Belarusians emigrating, with the two countries expelling a number of diplomats as ties have soured in recent weeks.