The number of migrants illegally reaching Germany via Belarus dropped significantly in the first half of 2024, government figures showed on Tuesday.
According to the figures, which were released in response to a parliamentary question from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), around 3,100 migrants arrived in Germany in the first half of the year after travelling through Belarus.
Police statistics show an estimated 7,926 migrants used the Belarus route to enter Germany in the corresponding period in 2023, rising to 11,932 by the end of the year.
The European Union has accused Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of deliberately encouraging and aiding migrants to enter the EU without authorization via Minsk.
The largest group of migrants were Afghans, the figures showed, followed by Somalian, Indian, Iranian and Yemeni nationals. Many travelled without documents.
Germany has previously attempted to crack down on the number of migrants illegally entering the country.
In October 2023, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser ordered temporary checks at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. The checks have since been extended multiple times.
