The ECtHR indicated interim measures in a case concerning five Afghan nationals who have arrived in Belarus in August 2021 and attempted to enter Lithuania with the aim to seek international protection there. The applicants alleged to have fled their country due to fear of Taliban reprisals because they are westernised and educated. The applicants are stranded at the border and complained before the Court under Article 2, 3 and 13 as well as under Article 4 Protocol 4. In the request for interim measures the applicants sought to halt removal to Belarus and the Court decided to apply Rule 39 until 29 September 2019. It indicated to Lithuanian Government not to remove the applicants to Belarus, provided that they are already on Lithuanian territory.

The court decided not to extend the measure as the Lithuanian Government assured the court that the applicants would not be expelled from Lithuania in the absence of the examination of their asylum applications.