Belarus says it has turned back 2,000 migrants

FILE PHOTO: Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei attends a news conference following the annual meeting of the collegiums of the Russian and Belarusian Foreign Ministries in Moscow, Russia, November 10, 2021. Yuri Kochetkov/Pool via REUTERS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Belarus has sent some 2,000 migrants back to their countries as part of efforts to stop illegal migration, its foreign minister said on Friday, as Minsk faces accusations of encouraging the migrants to cross into Poland and Lithuania via its territory.

Vladimir Makei said Belarus had revoked the right of 30 tourist firms to invite migrants "just about a month ago", according to transcript of a news conference published by his ministry.