In order to ensure the highest quality of our services, we use small files called cookies. When using our website, the cookie files are downloaded onto your device. You can change the settings of your browser at any time. In addition, your use of our website is tantamount to your consent to the processing of your personal data provided by electronic means.

Poland in Libya

Back

Political crisis initiated by the regime of Alexander Lukashenka. Polish-Belarusian border brief – update by 21 February 2022

22.02.2022

Situation at the Poland-Belarus border_baner

Although the number of attempts of illegal border crossings has significantly decreased in the recent period, they are still taking place. At present, usually they are undertaken by groups of migrants raging from a few to approx. 15 persons. Migrants continue to be coordinated by the Belarusian services who are using wooden logs, destroying the concertina wire and blinding the Polish forces by laser lights and flash lights. Belarusian services’ engagement in brutally forcing migrants to illegally cross the border is well documented and available through the Polish Border Guard publications.

Russia is actively supporting all initiatives of the Belarusian regime, which also serve to implement the Kremlin's strategic goals - especially those concerning the permanent destabilization of security in the Central European region. If Lukashenko had managed to break through our border and flood Poland with thousands of foreigners pushed to Poland by the regime’s services, our reaction to Russian actions towards Ukraine would have been much more difficult.

The former Belarusian ambassador to Poland informs that in the spring of 2022, the regime of Alexander Lukashenka may launch the next phase of the hybrid war. He points out that small groups of Afghan migrants with experience in combat and smuggling are to be mixed with regular migrants. According to the former ambassador, the KGB, GRU and the State Border Committee are working on the plan.

 

 

RECENT BORDER INCIDENTS:

  • From the beginning of the current year to February 16, the Polish Border Guard recorded 1300 attempts to cross the Belarusian-Polish border illegally. Till February 17 there were 260 of such attempts.​​​​​​​
  • Works related to the construction of the border wall on the Polish-Belarusian border are ongoing. The eastern border of the EU will be secured with the dam 186 km long and 5.5 m high. It will be topped with a coil of barbed wire in order to make it impossible to cross it over to the other side. Modern technologies will also be installed, including motion sensors along the entire border and cameras for faster electronic border management.
  • 15.02.2022 – 72 foreigners attempted to cross the BY-PL border illegally in different places (in the vicinity of Czeremcha, Dubicze Cerkiewne, Lipsk, Michałów, Narewka). In the vicinity of Mielnik, a group of 40 aggressive foreigners assisted by Belarusian services was forcibly pushing the border line. Stones were thrown at Polish patrols, blinded by laser flashlights. The foreigners (nationals of Syria, Egypt, Yemen, Sri Lanka and Congo) were destroying border protections, and with use of a wooden platform they managed to overcome the existing temporary fence. All of them were detained by the Polish services.
  • 16.02.2022 – a group of 8 migrants (7 nationals of Syria and 1 citizen of India) attempted to forcibly cross the border. Stones were thrown at Polish patrols. The foreigners were stopped and returned to the border line.
  • 17.02.2022 – the Polish Border Guard recorded 12 attempts to cross the border illegally, in the vicinity of Dubicze Cerkiewne, Michałów, Czeremcha and Białowieża. In the group of illegal migrants there were nationals of Syria, India, Pakistan, Yemen and Cuba.
  • 18.02.2022 – 2 Syrian nationals (24 and 28 years old) with German residence permits were stopped in the vicinity of Michałów. They were trying to pick up illegal migrants from the border and transport them to Germany with a BMW car registered in Germany. From the beginning of the year, the Polish Border Gueard detained 22 people at the BY-PL border for helping to organize illegal border crossing.
  • 18.02.2022 – 13 foreigners attempted to forcibly cross the border in the vicinity of Czeremcha. The group (including the citizens of Cuba and Syria) assisted by Belarusian services threw stones at Polish patrols and blinded them with flashlights.
  • 19.02.2022 – another group of 20 foreigners (nationals of India, Ghana, Yemen, Senegal, Cameroon, Pakistan, Lebanon and Turkey) were stopped for attempts to cross the border illegally.
  • 20.02.2022 – in the vicinity of Czeremcha, Michałów and Kuźnica – other groups - 36 foreigners (citizens of India, Senegal, Syria, Egypt, Turkey and Iraq) attempting to cross the border illegally were stopped.

To follow up-to-date information on the situation on the Polish-Belarussian border, we encourage you to visit:

 

DIPLOMATIC ACTIONS UNDERTAKEN BY POLAND’s OFFICIALS:

The situation on the Polish-Belarussian border, the hybrid action against Poland and the Russian military build-up on the borders with Ukraine has been the subject of the following actions:

  • 21 February - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Foreign Minister of Poland, Zbigniew Rau, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt (MP, Sweden) and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General Roberto Montella strongly condemned the decision by Russia to recognize certain areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts as independent and made the statement on it.
  • 21 February - FM Zbigniew Rau took part in the Foreign Affairs Council meeting. Ministers discussed the European security situation and Russia's aggressive action against Ukraine. On the sidelines of FAC meeting, FM Zbigniew Rau met with  Slovak FM Ivan Korčok and Estonian FM Eva-Maria Liimets.
  • 17 February - Joint statement was issued by FMs of Poland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom: “Our three nations will intensify our joint work to safeguard stability and build resilience in Ukraine, strengthening democracy at the frontier in Eastern Europe.” 
  • 19 February - PM Mateusz Morawiecki took part in the 58th Munich Security Conference. He said: “We have to wake up from geopolitical nap of the last couple of years or even decades. Now, we are confronted with a very aggressive Kremlin policy. We have to be strong and united in responding to threats coming from the East.”
  • 18 February - PM Mateusz Morawiecki in Brussels: “We achieve our goal of increasing awareness of non-military risks and threats. This is what the EU countries are experiencing from Russia. We do not agree to this and construct a particular package of sanctions.” He indicated the unity of the European Union and NATO in the face of Putin's aggressive policy saying: “Our unity surprises him. He is now confronted with a very united response.”
  • 15 February - FM Zbigniew Rau as OSCE Chairman-in-Office visited Moscow. During the talks with Russian FM Sergey Lavrov, minister underlined a need to continue constructive dialogue. Ministers discussed the situation in and around Ukraine and Renewed OSCE European Security Dialogue initiative. He said: “The only way out of the current situation is diplomacy. The OSCE was created to solve problems like the ones we deal with today”.

 

21 February 2022

{"register":{"columns":[]}}