According to media reports, a confidential document from the German government warned of similar methods by Lukashenko in the spring.
The situation on the border between the European Union and Belarus is escalating: hundreds of migrants are trying to storm the border, throwing stones and sticks at Polish border guards; several soldiers were wounded. In this regard, Poland is increasingly drawing troops to the eastern borders.
The situation at the border is getting worse.
It became known this week that several dozen illegal migrants from the Middle East were trying to break through the Belarusian-Polish border. According to the Twitter account of the Polish Border Guard, both attacks were repulsed, injuring two Polish soldiers.
“Two soldiers of the Polish Army were hospitalized. One of them was wounded by a stone by foreigners, the other by a branch. Their lives are not in danger, they have already been discharged from the hospital . Some border guards were slightly injured, but did not have to be hospitalized. Migrants behaved very aggressively,” the representative of the border service Anna Mishalska said.
Polish border guards did not specify the number of wounded migrants, but it was reported that 19 people, mostly Syrians, were detained during the assault attempt.
Due to the growing number of illegal immigrants, the Polish authorities will attract about 2.5 thousand more servicemen to guard the border with Belarus, increasing their number to ten thousand, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said.
Germany is taking similar measures to strengthen its border with Poland, as the number of illegal migrants entering German lands from the country has also increased significantly.
Since the beginning of October, about 4.5 thousand cases of border crossings by migrants on the Belarus-Poland-Germany route have been registered. They are breaking through barriers with stones and huge tree branches. Since the beginning of the year, this figure is a total of 6.5 thousand cases.
Thus, eight additional police units have already been sent to the areas bordering Poland, said German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer. According to him, if necessary, control over the border line passing through forests will be strengthened.
In addition, the current border control on the border with Austria will be extended for another six months, Germany told Brussels.
“If the situation on the German border with Poland does not calm down, we will have to consider introducing similar measures in coordination with Poland and the authorities of the federal state of Brandenburg,” said Horst Seehofer.
At the same time, he is against the introduction of border control at the EU’s internal borders. “If possible, there should be no more border controls inside Europe. However, this will be possible only if the protection of external borders works,” the minister said.
At the same time, he supported the strengthening of control on the Polish-Belarusian border.
“In the spirit of the European idea, I am convinced that we need to know who is coming to us. It is perfectly legal if we protect the external border in this way so that there is no illegal crossing. Anyone who wants to enter must comply with the conditions, and it should be controlled, “the Interior Minister said.
On October 26, new laws came into force in Poland, which allow a migrant to be sent back immediately after crossing the border illegally, and allow the Polish authorities not to accept his request for international protection.
The EU will not be protected by a fence, but by sanctions.
Many EU countries accuse Belarus of deliberately importing illegal migrants and sending them to the borders with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia to force Brussels to ease or lift sanctions.
Sanctions were imposed for suppressing protests following the West unrecognized re-election of Alexander Lukashenko last August and for repression against Belarusians.
The German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that a confidential document from the German government warned of similar methods by Lukashenko in the spring. The problem is that the Belarusian dictator allegedly does not violate international law, the publication notes.
The Center for German Strategy, Analysis and Sustainability, which includes the Ministries of the Interior, Foreign Affairs and Defense, is studying what experts call an illegitimate foreign influence or a hybrid threat.
This is a political activity carried out in the “gray” zone, ie it does not violate the law, but is illegal. Such activities cause harm, but in an unconventional way.
German government experts have accurately described Lukashenko’s tactics in a 19-page confidential report in April. According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, the broadcasters NDR and WDR, the foreign countries seek “targeted control over migration flows”.
Migration is partly used by states such as the “trump card for negotiations”. To increase the pressure on Germany, “migration flows are specifically directed to a certain part of the EU border.”
In September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union was ready to counter a hybrid attack of involving Belarusian migrants. The EU is preparing a fifth package of sanctions against the Lukashenko regime for using migrants as a tool against the European Union.
Last week, she said the EU would not provide funds for the physical strengthening of borders, despite an increase in the number of migrants at the bloc’s external borders.
“I have made it quite clear that the European Commission and the European Parliament have long held the position: not to pay for barbed wire and walls,” said von der Layen, commenting on the request for financial assistance from Lithuania.