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The District Prosecutor’s Office has initiated an inquiry into potential abuses of power by Polish Border Guard officers in Usnarz Górny (Podlaskie Voivodeship). The events in Usnarz Górny gained attention in August 2021 when a group of immigrants from Afghanistan and Iraq camped on the Belarusian side of the border.
Border Guard’s Actions Under Scrutiny
The District Prosecutor’s spokesperson, Prosecutor Szymon Banna, revealed on Tuesday that the investigation was opened following the District Court in Sokółka’s decision to overturn the initial refusal to launch a preparatory proceeding.
Migrant Camp Three Years Ago
The incidents prompting the investigation occurred nearly three years ago during the early stages of the crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border. In August 2021, media reported on a group of foreigners camping on the Belarusian side near Usnarz Górny, obstructed by the Polish Border Guard. Journalists, activists, and opposition politicians visited the area, demanding the foreigners be allowed refugee procedures in Poland.