Lithuania announced on Monday that it has completed the construction of a fence on the border with Belarus to fight illegal immigration, writes AFP.

The barrier in the form of a four-meter fence and barbed wire stretches for about 550 kilometers of the common border of about 700 kilometers.

“In all areas, the works are 100% completed,” Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonite told reporters.

On the rest of the border, which runs through swamps, lakes and rivers, it is “technically impossible” to build a physical barrier, she added.

Illegal immigration to Lithuania increased this year, about 4,200 immigrants – mainly from the Middle East and Africa – were able to cross the border from Belarus.

The West has accused the Belarusian regime of orchestrating the influx with its Russian ally in a “hybrid” attack, which Minsk denies.

Lithuania has a policy of denying entry to migrants accused of illegal expulsion.

Despite the accusations, Simonite said his country would continue the controversial tactic and explore legal options to maintain it even without imposing a state of emergency.

However, she acknowledged that this would be a challenge in the context of international law in this regard.

“We have a lot of work to do in this area,” Simonite admitted.

Recently, the number of illegal migrants trying to get to Lithuania has increased again.

Border guards turned away 125 migrants last Saturday, the highest number since the beginning of the year.

Lithuanian border guards accuse their Belarusian colleagues of helping migrants get to Lithuania.

They are “actively participating in damaging the newly built fence,” said the head of the Lithuanian border police, Rustamas Lyubaevas.

“Since the beginning of July, 95 cases of damage have been registered,” he said.