CYIL vol. 13 (2022)

CYIL 13 ȍ2022Ȏ MIGRATION FROM BELARUS TO LITHUANIA, POLAND, LATVIA IN 2021–2022 … Hybrid warfare is another term, which refers to “the use of unconventional methods as part of a multi-domain warfighting approach. These methods aim to disrupt and disable an opponent’s actions without engaging in open hostilities.” 29 The term “political warfare” is also employed, where this term commonly refers when the power is used to achieve national objectives in a way that falls short of physical conflict. “Such warfare is conducted in the “grey zone” of conflict, meaning operations may not clearly cross the threshold of war. That might be due to the ambiguity of international law, ambiguity of actions and attribution, or because the impact of the activities does not justify a response.” 30 Irregular migration from Belarus was indicated as hybrid attack or hybrid action by many actors. On 13 July 2021 Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas) had passed a resolution stating that “countries hostile towards Lithuania are carrying out hybrid aggression against the Republic of Lithuania” by organising irregular migration. 31 It also expressed concern that „this hybrid aggression can be further developed and exploited and can even be used as a basis for threats of new nature in the context of the large-scale military exercise Zapad“, which was held in Russia and Belarus in autumn 2021. 32 Therefore, the resolution called “on the government to step up the protection of the border between Lithuania and Belarus through the involvement of the Lithuanian military and the construction of a physical barrier as soon as possible.” 33 On 6 August 2021, “Poland’s government accused Belarus of using migrants as “living weapons” in a “hybrid war”.” 34 The North Atlantic Council has strongly condemned the continued instrumentalisation of irregular migration artificially created by Belarus as part of hybrid actions targeted against Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia for political purposes. 35 The president of the European Council, Charles Michel called the crisis “brutal, hybrid attack on our EU borders.” 36 On 15 November 2021 the Council of EU adopted new sanctions on Belarus after these events, following the European Council conclusions of 21 and 22 October 2021, in which “EU leaders declared that they would not accept any attempt by third countries to instrumentalise migrants for political purposes, condemned all hybrid attacks at the EU’s borders and affirmed that it would respond accordingly.” 37 29 DOWSE, A., BACHMANN, S.-A. ‘Explainer: what is ‘hybrid warfare’ and what is meant by the ‘grey zone’?’ The Conversation (17 June 2019) accessed 31 May 2022. 30 Ibid. 31 ‘Lithuanian parliament designates irregular migration via Belarus as ‘hybrid aggression’ LRT. (13 July 2021) accessed 29 May 2022. 32 Ibid. 33 Lietuvos Respublikos Seimas [The Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania] ‘Dėl hibridinės agresijos atrėmimo’ [On Countering Hybrid Aggression] TAR, 2021, Nr. 15834. 34 ‘Poland accuses Belarus of sending migrants over border as “living weapons” in “hybrid war”’ Notes from Poland (6 August 2021) accessed 31 May 2022. 35 NATO, ‘Statement by the North Atlantic Council on the situation at the Poland-Belarus border’ (Press Release (2021) 165, issued on 12 November 2021) accessed 30 May 2022. 36 BACHMANN, S.-A. ‘Is the Belarus migrant crisis a ‘new type of war’? A conflict expert explains’ The Conversation (17 November 2021) accessed 31 May 2022. 37 Council of the EU, ‘Belarus: EU broadens scope for sanctions to tackle hybrid attacks and instrumentalisation of migrants’ (Press release, 15 November 2021)

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