EN 
FR 
BE-FR 
BE-NL 
DE 
NL 
ES 
IT 
SK 
HU 
DK 
SE 
November 2022
Bernd
French
After the Balkan route, a new migratory route to Western Europe is becoming a concern: the one from Belarus.
Since the summer of 2021, Lithuanian, Latvian and Polish border guards have witnessed an ever-increasing influx of migrants crossing their borders illegally[1]. According to the authorities of the three EU member states, the majority of migrants come from the Middle East (Iraq, Syria, Yemen) and sub-Saharan Africa, and arrive in Belarus by plane, either from Moscow or from the Middle East, at prices approaching thousands of dollars, with the help of Belarusian travel agencies and visa-issuing authorities[2].
European countries denounce these practices as a "hybrid war" orchestrated by Minsk, aimed at destabilising the EU. This is in response to the EU sanctions put in place after the 2020 election protests were suppressed by the police, and the hijacking of the Athens-Vilnius Ryanair flight to Minsk in May 2021[3].
In order to protect the EU's external borders and contain these migratory flows, Latvia and Lithuania have declared a state of emergency, and begun work on building walls along their borders with Belarus[4]. As regards Poland, in addition to the state of emergency declared in all border municipalities with Belarus, the authorities have reinforced the fences, as well as the police and military presence along the border line (418 km)[5]. Recently, like Latvia and Lithuania, Poland has approved the construction of a wall, which will start in December 2021[6].
There is also military support from abroad, such as from Great Britain, which sent a team of 10 soldiers to support their colleagues in reconnaissance[7]. Other European countries, such as the Czech Republic and Lithuania, have recently offered assistance to Poland[8].
Belarus' neighbours have diplomatic means at their disposal to try to alleviate this migration crisis. NATO, the USA and the three Baltic states (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) have expressed their support for Poland[9]. Humanitarian aid for migrants remaining on Belarusian territory has been offered by the governments of Poland and the Baltic States[10].
The migration crisis is also part of a purely geopolitical context.
Since the disputed 2020 elections, EU-Belarus relations have deteriorated, with the implementation of EU sanctions on Belarusian officials[11]. In response, President Lukashenko had decided to stop arresting migrants seeking to enter Europe via Belarusian territory[12]. At the same time, the Belarusian and Russian military forces had organised several military exercises along the border with Poland and Lithuania, such as ZAPAD[13]. A new surprise exercise took place shortly before the 15-16 November 2021 clashes at the Kuźnica border crossing[14]. Numerous witnesses from the border guards reported the presence of Belarusian or even Russian commandos among the migrants, who were held as civilians[15]. In several border locations, Polish police and military personnel were attacked in a variety of ways: destruction of fences, throwing of projectiles, use of blinding lasers[16]etc.
Behind the migration crisis, we are witnessing more than ever to disinformation and political and media pressure[17]. The media are becoming increasingly anti-Polish, as demonstrated once again by the case of presenter Azarionok on the national channel CTV, the Belarusian equivalent of the French TF1 or the Belgian RTBF/VRT[18].
The incidents on the Polish-Belarusian border thus represent not only a migration crisis, but also a new geostrategic front between Russia and Europe.
© 2022 All rights reserved by BRAUN
[1] CIENSKI, Jan, "The politics behind Poland's border crisis", Politico. URL: https://www.politico.eu/article/poland-belarus-migrant-border-crisis/, published on 9.11.2021; "EU must be ready for even greater migrant influx - Lithuanian president", The Baltic TimesURL: https://www.baltictimes.com/eu_must_be_ready_for_even_greater_migrant_influx___lithuanian_president/, published on 22.10.2021; "Latvia, Lithuania take action to stop migrant influx from Belarus", Deutsche Welle. URL: https://www.dw.com/en/latvia-lithuania-take-action-to-stop-migrant-influx-from-belarus/a-58822237, published on 10.08.2021, accessed on 18.11.2021.
[2] BEAKE, Nick, "Belarus migrants : Poland faces fresh border breaches", BBC. URL: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59231136, published on 10.11.2021; "Crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border", New Europe. URL: https://www.neweurope.eu/article/crisis-on-the-polish-belarusian-border/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook&fbclid=IwAR3ij8-OJBt5Mmw7zjxGKJW-8SiIB0e3SNx5rQH-sMudscV_sv3yrqeef1Q, published on 12.11.2021, accessed on 18.11.2021.
[3] "Crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border" (Id., n°2).
[4] "After Lithuania and Poland, Latvia will also build a wall on the Belarusian border", Visegrad Post. URL: https://visegradpost.com/fr/2021/11/16/apres-la-lituanie-et-la-pologne-la-lettonie-va-aussi-construire-un-mur-a-la-frontiere-bielorusse/, published on 16.11.2021; "Lithuania building 4-meter-high fence on border with Belarus", Belsat. URL: https://belsat.eu/en/news/28-10-2021-lithuania-building-4-meter-high-fence-on-border-with-belarus/, published on 28.10.2021; "Lithuania and Latvia both begin building border fence with Belarus", DPA International. URL : https://www.dpa-international.com/topic/lithuania-latvia-begin-building-border-fence-belarus-urn%3Anewsml%3Adpa.com%3A20090101%3A210929-99-418685, publié le 29.09.2021, consultés le 18.11.2021.
[5] "Ogrodzenie na granicy Polski z Białorusią. Brytyjczycy deklarują pomoc", Business Insider. URL: https://businessinsider.com.pl/wiadomosci/ogrodzenie-na-granicy-polski-z-bialorusia-brytyjczycy-deklaruja-pomoc/7n86nb9?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fb_bi&fbclid=IwAR2svp7AciIE7Axk_DmHb3JmvSMN58S1iWWIeUq6oyCr2CYLy2RI6G2-_g8, published on 12.11.2021, SPIRLET, Thibault, "10 British troops deployed to support Poland on Belarus border", Politico. URL: https://www.politico.eu/article/british-troops-deployed-poland-belarus-border-migration/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR1Gcvz_9P_u4GYNLMIgb7yz4-QSrsS4uCLwqfj4ABDncJL9tK6uBtzJads#Echobox=1636742578, published on 12.11.2021, accessed on 18.11.2021.
[6] BAULT, Olivier, "Poland strives to stop the migratory assault despite EU attacks", Visegrad Post. URL: https://visegradpost.com/fr/2021/11/02/la-pologne-sefforce-darreter-lassaut-migratoire-malgre-les-attaques-de-lue/, published on 2.11.2021, accessed on 18.11.2021.
[7] BORGER, Julian, SABBAGH, Dan, "Team of 10 UK soldiers sent to Poland to assist on Belarus border", The Guardian. URL: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/nov/12/british-troops-sent-to-poland-to-assist-with-belarus-border-situation?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR2y3fM46hAt2XRQkCahIMkCianABiVDSRiY72qLwaQG5hjOzP6IzSLtQV8#Echobox=1636729250, published on 12.11.2021, accessed on 18.11.2021.
[8] "Cenne wsparcie! Litewska Służba Ochrony Granicy Państwowej deklaruje pomoc Polsce: To już nie jest atak, lecz wojna hybrydowa", Wpolityce.pl. URL: https://wpolityce.pl/swiat/574362-to-juz-nie-jest-atak-lecz-wojnalitwini-chca-pomoc-polsce, published on 17.11.2021; ZACHOVÁ, Aneta, "Czechy chcą pomóc Polsce w ochronie granic. Przyszły rząd krytykuje poprzedników" (polskie tłumaczenie: KRZYSZTOSZEK, Aleksandra), Euractiv.cz. URL: https://www.euractiv.pl/section/migracje/news/czechy-rzad-polska-granica-imigracja/, published on 15.11.2021, accessed on 18.11.2021.
[9] "Blinken reaffirms US support for Poland amid migrant crisis", Polskie Radio. URL: https://www.polskieradio.pl/395/7785/Artykul/2848195,Blinken-reaffirms-US-support-for-Poland-amid-migrant-crisis, published on 15.11.2021; "Kryzys na granicy. Jest reakcja Litwy, Łotwy i Estonii", Business Insider. URL: https://businessinsider.com.pl/polityka/kryzys-na-granicy-litwa-lotwa-i-estonia-wyrazaja-wsparcie-i-solidarnosc/h3mz1hy, published on 8.11.2021; "Litwa, Łotwa i Estonia wyrażają wsparcie i solidarność z Polską w związku z kryzysem na granicy", Polska Agencja Prasowa. URL : https://www.pap.pl/aktualnosci/news%2C993748%2Clitwa-lotwa-i-estonia-wyrazaja-wsparcie-i-solidarnosc-z-polska-w-zwiazku-z, publié le 8.11.2021 ; «NATO restates support for Poland over Belarus migrant crisis», Reuters. URL: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/nato-restates-support-poland-over-belarus-migrant-crisis-2021-11-16/, published on 16.11.2021, accessed on 18.11.2021.
[10] "Apel szefów MSW Polski, Łotwy, Estonii i Litwy. Wzywają organizacje humanitarne do współpracy z władzami Białorusi", Polska Agencja Prasowa. URL : https://www.pap.pl/aktualnosci/news%2C998504%2Capel-szefow-msw-polski-lotwy-estonii-i-litwy-wzywaja-organizacje, publié le 12.11.2021, consulté le 18.11.2021.
[11] RICH, David, "Belarus: how migrants became trapped at the gates of Europe", France 24. URL : https://www.france24.com/fr/europe/20211110-crise-migratoire-en-bi%C3%A9lorussie-comment-les-candidats-%C3%A0-l-exil-se-sont-retrouv%C3%A9s-pris-au-pi%C3%A8ge, publié le 10.11.2021, consulté le 18.11.2021.
[12] Id.
[13] "Russian-Belarusian military manoeuvres worry neighbouring countries", The Free. URL: https://www.lalibre.be/international/europe/2021/09/10/des-manoeuvres-militaires-russo-belarusses-inquietent-les-pays-voisins-3D3IUKIDQBHVRALR7Q2QI6AET4/, published on 10.09.2021, accessed on 18.11.2021.
[14] "Clashes between Polish forces and migrants at the border with Belarus", RTL Info. URL: https://www.rtl.be/info/monde/international/affrontements-entre-forces-polonaises-et-migrants-a-la-frontiere-avec-le-belarus-1338001.aspx, published on 16.11.2021; DRABIK, Piotr, "Desant przy polskiej granicy. Niespodziewane ćwiczenia wojskowe Rosji i Białorusi", Radio Zet. URL: https://wiadomosci.radiozet.pl/Swiat/Desant-Rosji-i-Bialorusi-przy-polskiej-granicy.-Niespodziewane-cwiczenia-wojskowe, published on 12.11.2021; "Russia and Belarus conduct military exercises near the Polish border", 7sur7.be. URL: https://www.7sur7.be/monde/la-russie-et-le-belarus-menent-des-exercices-militaires-pres-de-la-frontiere-polonaise~ae65403c/, published on 12.11.2021, accessed on 18.11.2021.
[15] "Straż Graniczna: Wśród osób atakujących polską granicę są białoruscy pogranicznicy", Radio Lublin. URL: https://radio.lublin.pl/2021/11/straz-graniczna-wsrod-osob-atakujacych-polska-granice-sa-bialoruscy-pogranicznicy/, published on 16.11.2021; "Szturm na granicę. Wiadomo, kto jeszcze jest wśród migrantów", TVP Info. URL: https://www.tvp.info/56849141/kryzys-na-granicy-ujawniono-kto-jest-posrod-migrantow-to-nie-tylko-sluzby-lukaszenki, published on 10.11.2021, accessed on 18.11.2021.
[16] "Czeremcha. Atak gazem łzawiącym i oślepianie laserem strażników granicy", Podlaskie 24. URL: https://podlaskie24.pl/artykul/wydarzenia/czeremcha-atak-gazem-lzawiacym-i-oslepianie-laserem-straznikow-granicy/?fbclid=IwAR21f42w7TwEJaR34vthRC_oU55cG3heuCaKisA32Vrznlq1jKkcPkjxpFk, published and accessed on 13.11.2021.
[17] ADAMS, Paul, NEVETT, Joshua, "Poland-Belarus: How social media posts fuelled the migrant crisis", BBC. URL: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59253377, published on 11.11.2021; CURA, Ali, "Tensions mount between Belarus, West over migrant crisis on Polish border", Anadolu Agency. URL: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/tensions-mount-between-belarus-west-over-migrant-crisis-on-polish-border/2418666, published on 12.11.2021; ""Stop dezinformacji!", "Szacunek dla Polski. Wpisy pod materiałami zagranicznych mediów", TVP Info. URL: https://www.tvp.info/56972399/swiatowe-media-relacjonuja-atak-imigrantow-na-granicy-polsko-bialoruskiej-setki-komentarzy-chwalacych-polskie-sluzby-pod-filmami-bbc-guardiana-czy-aljazeery, published on 17.11.2021, accessed on 18.11.2021.
[18] BARAN, Violetta, "Kryzys na granicy. Białoruski dziennikarz do Polaków: Amerykanie nie będą za was walczyć" , Wirtualna Polska. URL: https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/kryzys-na-granicy-bialoruski-dziennikarz-do-polakow-amerykanie-nie-beda-za-was-walczyc-6703599440825248a, published on 11.11.2021; "Lukashenko's regime journalist scares Poles. "If The Tears of Children Don't Speak To You, the Bombers Will", Poland Daily 24. URL: https://polanddaily24.com/3314-lukashenko39s-regime-journalist-scares-poles-if-the-tears-of-children-don39t-speak-to-you-the-bombers-will, published on 11.11.2021, accessed on 13.11.2021.
