WARSAW: The Polish government has accused Belarus and Russia of coordinating a deliberate migration influx into the European Union via the Polish border, asserting that the motive behind this operation is to create regional instability. Polish Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Wasik and Tomasz Praga, the head of the Polish border guard, made these allegations during a press conference on Monday.
Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Wasik stated, “We’re talking about an operation organized by the Russian and Belarusian secret services that is getting more and more intense.” Tomasz Praga, echoing the sentiment, referred to the Belarusian services as “a criminal group that is masterminding illegal migration,” emphasizing their financial gains from such activities.
The accusations come in the context of a previous border crisis that unfolded in the summer of 2021, during which tens of thousands of migrants and refugees, primarily from the Middle East, attempted to enter Poland from Belarus. During that period, the West had alleged that Belarus, in partnership with Russia, orchestrated a “hybrid” attack involving non-military tactics, an accusation that Minsk denied.
Migrants Entry into Poland from Belarus
In response to the crisis, Poland had established a no-access zone at the border, prohibiting non-residents, including migrants, aid workers, and media personnel, from the area. It also deployed additional troops and police officers to reinforce border guard patrols, erected a steel wall along the border, and introduced legislation enabling migrants to be forcibly returned to Belarus.
While Deputy Minister Wasik noted that the current situation is less chaotic compared to two years ago, Tomasz Praga revealed that around 19,000 migrants have attempted to enter Poland from Belarus this year, surpassing the total of 16,000 in 2022. In the previous month alone, over 4,000 migrants attempted to cross the border.
As a response to the recent surge in migration attempts, the Polish border guard has requested the defense ministry to deploy an additional 1,000 troops to the border area. The accusations against Belarus and Russia highlight the ongoing challenges faced by Poland and the European Union in managing irregular migration and securing their borders.
