Migration situation at the Belarus-EU borders — press release

The Republic of Belarus firmly believes in the key role of international cooperation for resolving of any crisis.

Belarus has never been a source of instability. However, due to certain circumstances beyond of our control, Belarus has recently faced an increase in the flow of migrants heading to the countries of the European Union.

This transit is not a new phenomenon, and is significantly inferior in scale to the migrations flows to Greece and Italy. Such transit took place before, but through joint efforts of Belarus and our neighboring countries the observance of common interests in the field of regional security and border protection was ensured.

The situation changed when the EU rejected to engage constructively with Belarus. Since April 2021, the Belarusian Side has repeatedly approached the European Commission with a proposal to hold consultations on cooperation in the field of combating illegal migration. Unfortunately, the EU has consistently rejected such a dialogue and politicized the issue.

In violation of the provisions of the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees, instead of establishing constructive cooperation, the Polish, Lithuanian and Latvian authorities use the tactics of forcible deportation (‘pushbacks’) of persons detained on their territory to Belarus. There are incontrovertible audio and video evidences of numerous cases of violence against them, including children and women, some of whom are in the last months of pregnancy. The documented facts of the brutality of the Polish and Lithuanian security forces are attached (file 1, file 2).

Given the complete inaction of the EU and taking into account the onset of cold weather, the President of the Republic of Belarus made a decision to take care of children and women, providing them with safe conditions on the territory of Belarus. Information on Belarus’ assistance provided to migrants at the borders is enclosed (file 3).

Belarus has been and remains a responsible and reliable partner in the fight against illegal migration and border protection, and continue to fulfill its international obligations. In no way Belarus promotes illegal migration to the EU countries and does not use its airspace for this purpose. It is the other way around, our country continuously takes measures to combat illegal migration; here are just a few:

• In January-August 2021, over 600 people were detained for violating the legislation on the state border, 130 foreigners were detained for violating the legislation on the legal status. 12 channels of illegal transit migration to the EU were suppressed (which is 6.5 times more than in 2020), 15 organizers and accomplices were detained, 14 criminal cases were initiated;
• In September-October 2021, more than 30 travel companies that systematically violated migration legislation and visa procedures were prevented from the possibility of submitting applications for tourist visas at the airport and diplomatic missions of the Republic of Belarus for the nationals of the countries that are unfavorable in terms of migration (source countries);
• From September 28, 2021, foreigners from high-risk migration countries are redirected to apply for the Belarusian visas at the Belarusian diplomatic missions in Egypt, Iran, Nigeria, UAE, Pakistan, Syria and Turkey. This step allows for additional control measures when processing visa applications – before entering the country;
• From October 19, 2021, the issuance of tourist visas to the nationals of certain countries was completely halted.

Belarus does not hide anything, as it does not violate its international obligations. Belarus has provided international agencies with the access to migrants at the border and continues to cooperate with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration and the Belarusian Red Cross Society in order to provide assistance to people in a vulnerable situation.

Poland and Lithuania, while allegedly defending European security, demonstrate complete secrecy from any national monitoring and international interaction. These countries have introduced a state of emergency to justify cruel and close to an inhuman treatment of asylum seekers. This is an absolutely xenophobic policy that violates the principles of international law.

Belarus is ready to work with all international partners, putting aside political differences in order to prevent further exacerbation of the migration crisis in our region and to save human lives.

There is a way out of this situation. And this way out lies not through persistent groundless attempts of the Western counties to “demonize” Belarus, but through joint efforts and dialogue.

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