According to the Regulation of the Minister of the Interior and Administration of 30 November this year, on the introduction of a temporary ban on staying in a specified area in the border zone adjacent to the state border with the Republic of Belarus, a temporary ban was introduced for the period from 1 December this year to 1 March 2022.

The principle was adopted that these are the same places where the state of emergency was in force

stressed Deputy Minister Błażej Poboży. He also mentioned that the duration of the ban could be either extended or shortened, depending on the situation at the border.

Journalists’ access to the restricted area will be possible based granted accreditations.

Accreditation will be granted by the commanding officer of the relevant Border Guard post. Applications will be collected at a dedicated e-mail address. Entry into the prohibited area will be organised under the care of the Border Guard

said Deputy Minister Błażej Poboży. He added that both the safety of journalists and maintaining the safety of officers on duty there are crucial.

Journalists interested in participating in an organised form of entry to the no-go area will be able to indicate the area they want to visit. One journalist team will include representatives of different types of media (one person each, except for TV stations - in this case it will be a journalist and cameraman). Such structured visits will take place every day. On the day of the visit, the journalists will undergo special safety training and will also be required to wear identification waistcoats during their stay. As the deputy minister Błażej Poboży emphasised, a press centre will also be at the journalists' disposal, located between Kuźnica and Sokółka.

During the conference, Lt. Anna Michalska, a press officer for the Commander-in-Chief of the Border Guard, provided the latest statistics on attempts to illegally cross the Poland-Belarus border. The previous day (30 November), 102 such attempts were recorded. Stanisław Żaryn, a press officer for the Minister coordinating special services, informed about the shooting at lighting masts set up by Polish Armed Forces soldiers on the border with Belarus near Terespol. The floodlights were destroyed from shots fired from pneumatic weapons. The shelling was carried out from the territory of Belarus. Inspector Mariusz Ciarka - a press officer for the Police chief said that police officers, as during the state of emergency, will control both people entering and leaving the no-go zone.

Detailed principles for the presence of the media in the border zone with Belarus and the e-mail address to which accreditation requests can be submitted are available at the link: Terms and conditions of the presence of the media in the polish-belarusian border area.