On Monday, the European Union (EU), the United States (US), and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) condemned Belarus for exploiting migrants and attempting to create a migration crisis at the European border.
The EU, the US, and NATO accused Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko of orchestrating an unprecedented surge in migrants assembling at Poland’s border and called for tougher sanctions against Lukashenko’s regime. Warsaw claims that Lukashenko is intentionally attempting to escalate tensions at Poland’s side of the border after hundreds of migrants gathered to attempt to enter the EU.
The European Commission asserted that Lukashenko is using people as pawns to retaliate against the sanctions imposed by the bloc over electoral fraud and human rights abuses and urged the Belarusian leader to not put people’s lives at risk. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen thus called for tougher sanctions and measures against the airline involved in flying in migrants to the European border.
In a tweet, von der Leyen said: “Belarus must stop putting people’s lives at risk. I call for approval of extended sanctions, possible sanctions on third-country airlines involved. We also want to prevent a humanitarian crisis and ensure safe returns.” She further mentioned her conversation with EU Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas and EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell, who will be travelling to the migrants’ countries of origin to ensure that Belarusian authorities are not using them as weapons against the bloc.
Meanwhile, an official statement published on the Polish government website mentioned a large group of migrants on Poland’s side of the border, whom it claims are being controlled by the Belarusian secret services and the army. It stated, “By creating an artificial migration route and cynically exploiting migrants, Lukashenka is trying to destabilise Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, and to force the European Union to lift the sanctions imposed on the Minsk regime.” Additionally, the statement referred to the migration crisis as Lukashenko’s attempt to force the EU to withdraw its support for the democratic opposition in Belarus.
Furthermore, it stated: “Lukashenko’s actions aimed at destabilising the Polish border are also supplemented by methods of information warfare. Belarusians conduct disinformation activities, use emotional blackmail, exposing the participation of children and women in migrant groups, although they are a minority among migrants.” Poland’s Interior Ministry said the country is taking adequate steps to defend its borders and is coordinating with its allies (NATO and the EU).
Similarly, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis urged the bloc to adopt a stricter stance towards Belarus, including blacklisting the country’s airports. He said, “Europe cannot delay any longer. The escalating tension on the Polish border is proof that the Belarusian regime is about to take active offensive and provocative actions. Europe must react immediately and tighten its sanctions.”
The US and NATO also called the situation at the border concerning and urged Belarus to stop politicising migrants.
However, Belarus’ state border committee has rejected the accusations and reaffirmed that migrants were using their right to seek asylum in Europe. The committee said, “All of these people, including women and children, do not pose a security threat and do not behave aggressively.”
At the same time, human rights groups condemned the EU governments for pushing back migrants at the Poland-Belarus border. The United Nations refugee agency, though, tweeted: “Images from Belarus-Poland border are deeply concerning. We have repeatedly said using refugees & migrants to achieve political ends is unacceptable & must stop. It’s time to act now–we call on Belarus to avoid putting lives at risk.” The agency also called on Belarus and Poland to fulfil legal obligations by providing asylum.
EU, US Accuse Belarus of Migrant Exploitation, Call for Tougher Sanctions
The European Union and the United States, along with NATO, accused Belarus of weaponising migrants to retaliate against the sanctions imposed on the former over human rights abuse and electoral fraud.
November 9, 2021
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko SOURCE: THE HINDU