THERE was little respect for international human rights laws at the European Union’s edges today, with migrants continuing to be used as pawns in the battle between Belarus and Brussels and over 800 refugees in the Mediterranean waiting to be allowed ashore.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko ordered his security forces to “close every metre of the border" with Lithuania.

“Starting from today, not a single person should set foot on the territory of Belarus from the adjacent side, be it from the south or from the west,” he said.

The order was issued after the Lithuanian government ordered its border guards on Tuesday to prevent people crossing from Belarus — by force if necessary.

“Lithuania’s decision to turn away migrants trying to cross the border from Belarus does not comply with international law," said Egle Samuchovaite, programme director for the Lithuanian Red Cross, on Wednesday.

“Pushbacks of people seeking asylum are not compatible with the Geneva convention on refugee status, the EU Charter of Fundamental Human Rights and other Human Rights instruments.”

Vilnius has accused Minsk of deliberately flying in people from Iraq, Syria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in order to punish the EU for placing sanctions on the country following last year’s dubious election results.

Meanwhile, European authorities have yet to provide the Ocean Viking and Sea-Watch 3 rescue ships, carrying 553 and 257 refugees respectively, with a port to disembark the survivors, four days after they requested one.

Ocean Viking search-and-rescue co-ordinator Luisa Albera said: “Making people who narrowly escaped death at sea wait for days before disembarking means putting their physical and mental health at risk.”

“The uncertainty adds unnecessary suffering to an already dire situation. There have been too many stand-offs at sea over the past three years and I have seen the extremely serious consequences, with survivors being pushed into acute psychological distress.”