Poland has reinstated restrictions on movement along parts of its border with Belarus in response to heightened migration pressure and incidents of violence against Polish security officials. The ban, effective for 90 days, covers a 60-kilometer stretch of the land border between the two countries, which share a border of approximately 400 kilometers.
The government's decision aims to safeguard the safety of individuals in the area, including border guards, soldiers, and police, as well as to curb the activities of human smugglers facilitating irregular migration. While residents, workers, and students in the region will have access to the border areas, others will require permits to enter.
However, refugee rights activists have expressed dissatisfaction with the move, citing concerns that it may hinder their ability to provide assistance to migrants in need of medical or other support upon crossing the border.
Since 2021, EU authorities have accused Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of exploiting migration as a weapon by enticing individuals to his country as a gateway into the EU. In response to the surge in attempted illegal border crossings from Belarus, Poland had previously erected a steel barrier and declared a state of emergency in 2021, which has since lapsed.
Recent reports indicate a resurgence in the number of attempted crossings, with Polish officials noting aggressive behavior by some migrants on the Belarusian side of the border. Videos shared online depict migrants hurling objects, including rocks and burning wood, at Polish troops stationed behind the fence. Tragically, a Polish soldier was fatally stabbed by a migrant in late May, with his funeral held on Wednesday.
