Migrants who for weeks have been trying to cross the Polish Belarussian border are finally returning home. This is due to the firm posture of the Polish authorities as well as the diplomatic action encouraging Middle East governments to accept the returnees. As many as 3100 people have so far returned to their home country of Iraq.
Iraq’s government has chartered evacuation flights for over 3,100 Iraqis in Belarus. Some say they had no choice, while others saw little alternative given how hard it was to cross into Poland, and because of their treatment at the hands of border guards. Hemn Amin, a 29-year-old Iraqi Kurd from the town Khurmal, was among them. He said Belarusian border guards beat him and that he was pushed back and forth between the Belarusian and Polish border several times. He was then taken to a warehouse in the Grodno region where hundreds of other migrants had gathered.
Migrants know times of Polish guard changes, ways to disguise trails all provided by Belarussians
On Tuesday, 51 people attempted to cross the border from Belarus to Poland illegally. The Border Guard officers issued six decisions ordering migrants to leave Polish territory. In addition, Poland’s defence ministry has produced proof that Belarussian security services instructed migrants on how to cross the Polish-Belarussian border illegally. They knew the times of Polish guard changes, ways to disguise trails, and camouflage.
According to the ministry of defence spokesman, a detailed description of methods for illegal border crossing received from Belarusian security services were found on one of the migrants. Belarussian services provided detailed instructions to migrants on how to cross the Polish-Belarussian border illegally when Polish border posts change guards, and how to disguise trails as well as directions on where to travel and information on camouflage. On Tuesday, 51 people attempted to cross the border from Belarus to Poland illegally. Border Guard officers issued six decisions ordering migrants to leave Polish territory. Since the beginning of the year, there have been nearly 40,000 attempts to cross the Polish border from Belarus Illegally, including over 8,900 in November and 17,500 in October.
Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak handed over 118 new patrol vehicles a quarter of which went into service at the Poland-Belarus border.
