Polish PM promises to fortify shared border with Belarus amid surge in illegal crossings
May 11, Pozirk. Warsaw is the target of an ongoing hybrid war, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has told journalists, referring to the illegal migration crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border that started three years ago.
He described Belarus as a country with increasingly aggressive intentions towards Poland that keeps facilitating illegal crossings of the Polish border by third-country foreigners.
Tusk made the statement as he visited the Podlaskie voivodeship in northeastern Poland, where he met with servicemen and border guards in the village of Krynki, located less than one kilometer from Belarus.
In June 2023, Warsaw completed the construction of a 206-km long fence at the Polish-Belarusian border and is now planning to upgrade fortifications at its eastern border, which is also the European Union’s frontier, Tusk said, noting that illegal border crossings picked up pace recently.
The safety of all Poles depends on the border guards’ service and the government is planning amendments to existing legislation to support them, he added.
Since the start of 2024, the EU thwarted at least 13,367 illegal border crossings at its shared border with Belarus with 2,248 attempts recorded in the first nine days of May alone and Poland being the major target.
The migration crisis dates back to spring 2021, when Alaksandar Łukašenka, angered by EU sanctions, had indicated that Minsk would not prevent migrants from Africa and Asia from using Belarus as a route to the EU. It escalated in November 2021, with hundreds of migrants storming the Polish border.
The Baltic states and Poland accused Belarusian authorities of creating the trouble, while the latter blamed it on the West.
In August 2023, the interior ministers of Poland and the Baltic States warned that they would close the border with Belarus in response to a surge in illegal migration.
Two days ago, the ByPol association of former Belarusian law enforcers said that Łukašenka’s security services are massing migrants, expecting them to storm the Polish border soon.
EU stops over 2,000 illegal entries from Belarus since beginning of May
- PoliticsMoscow warns Ukraine and its allies against aggression towards BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarusian companies in EU employ about 40,000 people – business associationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
USAID opens Belarus office in Vilnius
- Politics, SocietyBelarus blocked more than 5,000 online information sources - ministerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyRaiffeisen to sell its stake in PriorbankThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyPolish visa centers to prioritize applications from Belarusian studentsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Security
Lithuanian lawyer convicted of spying for Belarus
- Economy
Rubel down 0.94 percent against US dollar at BCSE this week
- EconomyBiełstat: Belarusian companies’ CapEx up 4.4 percent in January-AugustThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
Belarusian tank crews to be drilled in Russia for one month
- PoliticsOpposition politician says Łukašenka responsible for forced transfers of 3,500 Ukrainian kidsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUS diplomat condemns Belarus 1 broadcast featuring jailed US lawyerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityIllegal Belarus-EU crossings up 40 percent in SeptemberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: at least 17 arrested during raids in Viciebsk, Brest regionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
Belarus: jailed US lawyer asks for pardon, reaches out to Harris and Trump
- PoliticsUN rights council to discuss Belarus on September 23The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
Pinsk court to try journalist for protesting
- Politics
Belarusian bishop asks Pope Francis about regional peace
- SocietyInternational fund raises nearly €1.3 million for Belarus’ political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCoE platform calls on Georgia to reconsider entry ban for Belarusian journalistThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyArrests in Hłybokaje, StolinThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPolitical prisoner Załatar released – ViasnaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition politician grateful to EP for resolution on BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMEPs urge EU to step up sanctions on MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
Łukašenka meets with Donetsk separatist leader
- PoliticsŁukašenka says Minsk has “own standards” for presidential electionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
Rubel slides against US dollar, yuan at BCSE
- Politics
Cichanoŭskaja nominates new social security chief
- Politics
Opposition leader: white-red-white flag to fly over Belarus again
- PoliticsReprisals: teachers in focus over links to blacklisted education projectThe material is available only to POZIRK+