The State Border Guard Service of Lithuania, or SBGS, reported on January 5 that three Tajik nationals – a man and his two teenage sons – have applied for asylum in Lithuania.

They were reportedly detained on January 4 while illegally crossing the Belarusian-Lituanian border near the village of Aladishkes in Varėna district.   

The man and his sons were reportedly taken to the Salcininkai checkpoint, where there are special premises for asylum seekers. The officers of the Migration Division of the SBGS Varėna Border Unit have reportedly started the initial actions of the asylum procedure.

The Migration Department, which handles such asylum applications, has been informed.