Border dispute with Poland: Belarusian soldiers apparently destroy the border barrier

In the border dispute with Poland, Belarusian soldiers are said to have destroyed a border barrier to apparently enable migrants to cross. Polish officials had previously found the body of a young Syrian at the border.

The border dispute between Belarus and Poland continues to escalate. According to the Polish border troops, Belarusian soldiers started destroying a temporary border barrier near the village of Czeremcha during the night and blinded Polish security forces with laser beams.

Nearby, 100 migrants were waiting to cross the border. “The Belarusians provided the foreigners with tear gas, which was used against the Polish services,” declared the border troops. A border crossing of the crowd had been prevented.

Dead Syrian found at the border

Previously, the Polish police found the body of a young Syrian in the forest on the border with Belarus. The officials said the dead man was discovered the day before near the village of Wolka Terechowska. The exact cause of death could not be determined, it said.

In the migration conflict with Belarus, which has been going on for several months, a total of at least nine deaths have been reported.

Lukashenko creates instability in the confederation

The EU accuses the government of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of promoting a new wave of mass migration and thus creating instability in the confederation of states. He wanted to retaliate for sanctions that the EU has imposed on his government for brutal actions against dissidents in Belarus.

The EU speaks of a “hybrid attack”. Belarus has denied the allegations but also stated that refugees and migrants would no longer be prevented from trying to enter the EU. According to the Polish border guards, there have been 33,000 attempts to illegally cross the border since the beginning of the year, 17,000 of them in October alone.

Instead of blockades tents for migrants

Poland, Lithuania and Latvia recently expanded their border security to block the new migration route. With the approaching winter and sinking temperatures, the situation is becoming more and more dangerous for the numerous people staying in the border area.

An easing of the situation is not in sight. The Belarusian state news agency Belta reported that Lukashenko had ordered the military to set up tents on the border. Food and other humanitarian aid could be collected there and distributed to the migrants, it said.

With information from Jan Pallokat, ARD Studio Warsaw