Poland will restrict the movement of non-residents along the Belarus border most vulnerable to “hybrid attacks” involving migrants, according to bne IntelliNews.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk made the announcement on May 29. He visited Border Guard’s local headquarters in the village of Dubicze Cerkiewne, 10 km from the border with Belarus. According to the Polish Border Guard Service, the decision followed the non-fatal stabbing of a Polish soldier on May 28 when a group of about 50 people tried to break through the border.
Poland also accused the Belarusian authorities of organising the migrant movement in what Warsaw called “hybrid war.”
We made a joint decision with the military command, the Border Guard, and the police to deploy all possible resources… to ensure that your service is safe.
Movement restrictions would come into effect on July 4 for 90 days, the Ministry of Interior and Administration reported. The aim is to “limit the presence of unauthorised persons” in the area. However, NGOs criticised Poland for illegally obstructing migrants trying to cross the border from Belarus.
The restrictions came after Tusk’s government stated that it would fortify areas along the borders with Belarus and Russia in the next few years. According to the government, the fortified borders will be part of a broader Shield East plan to ensure national security.
Moreover, Polish officials fear their country could become the next target if Ukraine is defeated. Poland already spends about 4 percent of its GDP on defence, making it NATO’s largest contributor, ahead of the United States and Greece.
