Lukashenko’s migrant ‘invasion’ escalates with 1,000 people ready to cross from Belarus into Poland
Migrant ‘invasion’ unleashed on the EU: Belarus dictator Lukashenko’s plan to ‘weaponise’ refugees hits new level as Polish soldiers are forced to prevent ‘mass breach’ after 1,000 are sent to the border
Scores of migrants have gathered along the Belarusian-Polish border near the Bruzgi-Kuznitsa checkpointThe group of around 1,000 refugees are being escorted by armed men believed to be Belarusian soldiersBelarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has been accused of ‘weaponising’ the migrants Stanislav Zharyn, Minister-Coordinator of the Polish Intelligence Service, has called the move ‘an invasion’Videos have emerged of thousands of refugees waiting in freezing temperatures in the forest near the borderPolish authorities say at least seven dead migrants have been found on Poland’s side of the borderA NATO official called the use of migrants ‘a hybrid tactic’, meaning a combined military-political operation
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Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko has unleashed a migrant ‘invasion’ on the EU, forcing Poland to deploy soldiers to block the ‘mass breach’ after more than 1,000 refugees were sent to the border.
Videos today showed an enormous procession of migrants near the Bruzgi-Kuznitsa frontier checkpoint, on a highway that links Belarus to Poland, being led towards the border by what appear to be Belarusian soldiers.
A NATO official called the use of migrants ‘a hybrid tactic’, meaning a combined military-political operation, and said: ‘NATO stands ready to further assist our allies, and maintain safety and security in the region’.
Lukashenko is accused of flying people in from the Middle East and Africa to use them as human cannon fodder in his battle with the EU, the United States and Britain, who imposed sanctions on Belarus after Lukashenko unleashed a violent crackdown on mass protests against his disputed election win last year.
He was slapped with further sanctions for diverting a Ryanair flight between EU capitals in May to arrest a dissident Belarusian journalist and his girlfriend on board, and for a brutal crackdown on the opposition.
Footage shows soldiers believed to be under the command of Lukashenko coercing the migrants and pushing them towards Poland to orchestrate what Stanislav Zharyn, Minister-Coordinator of the Polish Intelligence Service, has called ‘an invasion’.
Poland is stepping up security at its border with Belarus in response, with Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak declaring on Twitter that that more than 12,000 soldiers have been deployed on the border, up from the 10,000 soldiers that were there recently.
A Polish emergency law has barred media from reporting along the border, where at least 10 migrants have died, apparently blocked from entering further into Poland and stopped from going back into Belarus.
‘We are concerned by the recent escalation at the border between Poland and Belarus,’ the NATO official said in a statement, remaining anonymous in line with the alliance’s media practices.
‘We call on Belarus to abide by international law. We have seen a surge of migrants trying to enter Allied territory via Belarus. NATO continues to closely monitor the situation, which is putting pressure on our Allies Lithuania, Latvia and Poland,’ the official said.
Charities say the migrants face gruelling conditions while trying to cross the border from Belarus, enduring freezing weather and a lack of food, water and medical attention.
A surge of ‘illegal immigrants’ preparing to cross the border from dictatorship Belarus into NATO-EU state Poland has sparked fears of a major crisis in the region (pictured: immigrants making their way along the highway to Poland)
These extraordinary scenes are the most serious yet in a dispute that has seen the West accuse Belarusian autocrat Alexander Lukashenko of ‘weaponising’ immigration and engaging in a ‘hybrid war’
Armed men believed to be under the command of Lukashenko have been seen coercing the migrants and pushing them towards Poland to orchestrate an ‘invasion’ according to a Polish intelligence official
Videos today show an enormous procession of migrants near the Bruzgi-Kuznitsa frontier checkpoint, on a highway that links Belarus to Poland. Migrants have been gathered in the forests close to the checkpoint for weeks (countries in blue are part of the EU – Lithuania and Latvia have also reported a major influx of migrants in recent months from Belarus)
Charities say the migrants face gruelling conditions while trying to cross the border from Belarus, enduring freezing weather and a lack of food, water and medical attention
Polish authorities say at least seven dead migrants have been found on Poland’s side of the border, with unverified reports of more deaths in Belarus
There are more than a thousand people in the group of refugees near the border with Poland, including many women and children, reported RIA Novosti after speaking with Belarusian border guards.
The border guards said that migrants ‘do not pose a threat yet,’ but their statements came amid reports that Lukashenko was sending heavily armed riot police towards the border.
‘At the moment, a large group of refugees with belongings are moving along the road to the border with Poland,’ said the Belarusian border committee in a statement.
Meanwhile, Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr Wawrzyk said on Polish public radio this weekend: ‘Belarus wants to cause a major incident, preferably with shots fired and casualties.
‘According to media reports, they are preparing a major provocation near Kuznitsa Bialostocka (a Polish town right next to the Bruzgi-Kuznitsa border checkpoint), that there will be an attempt at a mass border crossing.’
Stanislav Zharyn, Minister-Coordinator of the Polish Intelligence Service, was equally as direct, tweeting: ‘the largest attempt at a military invasion of Poland has begun.’
‘A large group of migrants has gathered in Belarus, near the border with Poland. They will try to enter Poland en masse’.
‘New information shows that the group is under the strict control of armed Belarusians. They are the ones who decide the direction the group takes,’ Zaryn said.
Poland’s Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Maciej Wasik said its frontier guards, police and army were on duty.
‘The Polish services are ready for any scenario,’ he said.
But Russian authorities have declared their support of Lukashenko and Belarus’ role in the crisis.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said: ‘We have no doubt that the Belarusian migration service is taking all necessary steps to keep everything legal.
‘Of course, we do not doubt that [they are] taking into account [our] considerations and possible concerns in regard to the fact that migrants may end up in our territory as well.’
‘Measures are being taken, but the situation is, of course, tricky.’
Russia is one of Belarus’ only allies, as the EU-bloc, the UK and the US all oppose his presidency following an alleged rigged election last year.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is accused of flying people in from the Middle East and Africa to use them as human cannon fodder in his battle with the EU, the United States and Britain, who imposed sanctions on Belarus after Lukashenko unleashed a violent crackdown on mass protests against his disputed election win last year
Humanitarian groups have accused Poland’s ruling nationalists of violating the international right to asylum by pushing migrants back into Belarus instead of accepting their applications for protection. The Poles meanwhile say they are not responsible for the migrants, many of whom have likely been flown in from the Middle East by Belarus to be forced into the EU
Around a thousand migrants are gathering at the Bruzgi-Kuznitsa border between Belarus and Poland, with reports of Belarusian strongmen trying to force them into the EU
Videos and images have emerged of migrants gaining access to Poland through a gap in a barbed wire fence that runs along the Poland – Belarus border
Belarusian authorities have since attempted to lay the responsibility for the refugees, who have been gathered for weeks in cold temperatures along the Belarusian-Polish border, at Poland’s feet.
‘The refugees were prompted to such a step of despair by the indifference and inhuman attitude of the Polish authorities,’ they said.
‘The Belarusian side is taking the necessary measures to ensure the smooth functioning of international communication channels, as well as the safety of people moving along the highway.’
Humanitarian groups have also accused Poland’s ruling nationalists of violating the international right to asylum by pushing migrants back into Belarus instead of accepting their applications for protection.
The Poles meanwhile say Belarusian authorities are entirely responsible for exploiting vulnerable people from Iraq, Syria and other countries and pushing them towards the EU, with regular flights to Minsk from these nations.
Latvia and Lithuania have also faced an influx of immigrants in recent months.
Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Facebook that ‘the Polish border is not just a line on a map. The border is sacred – Polish blood has been spilled for it!’
Videos today show an enormous procession of migrants near the Bruzgi-Kuznitsa frontier checkpoint, on a highway that links Belarus to Poland
Migrants carrying tents, sleeping bags and warm clothing have been spotted trying to cross a barbed wire fence that has been erected along the Polish-Belarusian border
Warsaw and the EU say the build-up of migrants on the border is part of an organised action by the Belarusian government aimed at destabilizing the bloc in retaliation for Western sanctions.
Jerzy Marek Nowkowski, President of the Euro-Atlantic Association, said: ‘It is Lukashenko’s dream that shots would be fired at the border, and that perhaps one of the Polish or Belarusian border guards would be killed in the shootout.
‘This is clearly the aim of Lukashenko’s entire operation, because, after all, he is not concerned with immigrants but with maintaining and expanding his power, his position, his games within the Belarusian power elite and in his relations with Russia.
‘In order to prevent an escalation, we must above all keep our nerves in check and not allow ourselves to be provoked.’
Poland´s Border Guard have also reported incidents of hostile behavior and threats by Belarusian forces directed across the border at Polish forces.
On Friday there was a report that ‘a Belarusian soldier attempted to fire a flare gun at Polish soldiers. Luckily, the gun didn’t go off,’ according to the Warsaw defence ministry.
In another incident, the ministry reported that ‘five armed Belarusians attempted to destroy a fence, shouting that they would be shooting at Polish soldiers.
‘After additional forces of the Border Service and the Army were called for, the Belarusians retreated’.
There have been calls for walls on the Belarus borders with EU and NATO states Poland, Lithuania and Latvia amid the escalating tensions and the mounting number of migrants trying to enter the EU from Lukashenko’s nation.
