The Administrative judge as a detention judge: the case of Lithuania
ENThis chapter aims to provide a general overview of the implementation of the Return Directive provisions related to pre-removal detention and alternative measures in the Lithuanian legal order, as well as analysis of the practice of Lithuanian courts as regards detention of foreigners in return proceedings, including the judicial dialogue with the CJEU and the ECtHR.1 The Lithuanian legal landscape in this field is characterised by several features. Lithuania has so far avoided the recent waves of refugees and the ensuing consequences. That may be one reason why the detention of foreigners is not viewed as a very sensitive issue in Lithuanian society. However, some cases of asylum, notably of asylum seekers coming from Russia, have caught the media’s attention.2 Lithuania is also a transit country for foreigners who travel from Eastern and Southern countries aiming to arrive in Western Europe as their final destination. Therefore, the illegal crossing of Lithuanian borders is quite common.3.
