Polish government to prolong exclusion zone at Belarus border

Poland’s government has moved to extend the exclusion zone along the border with Belarus that was introduced in response to a crisis that has seen tens of thousands of people – mostly from the Middle East – attempting to cross.

The restrictions – which ban non-residents, including the media and NGOs, from entering the area without special permission – have been in place since last September, first in the form of a state of emergency and then, once that expired, under newly introduced legislation.

The government argues that the measures are needed to ensure security at the border. But rights groups have argued that they are too severe. Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that the ban on journalists violated constitutional freedoms.

The current restrictions were due to expire next week, on 1 March. But a draft regulation published today by the interior ministry would extend them again, until 30 June.

“Bearing in mind that attempts to illegally cross the border continue to take place, and incidents in the vicinity of the border may be used by the Belarusian side to escalate the crisis…it is reasonable to introduce a temporary ban on being at the border,” writes the ministry in its justification, quoted by Gazeta Wyborcza.

It also notes that this would “enable the completion of works related to the construction of…a technical barrier and electronic security [system]”. That is a reference to the €350 million, 186-kilometre-long wall the government is building on the border with Belarus in response to the migration crisis.

The ministry also stressed that the proposed measures will “ensure the safety of soldiers” stationed on the border, which is also the eastern frontier of the European Union and NATO.

Since the beginning of the crisis last year, Poland has described the crossings – which are orchestrated by the Belarusian regime – as part of a “hybrid” attack on the EU with Russian backing.

While the crisis has subsided since its peak last October – when 17,500 attempted illegal crossings were recorded by the Polish border guard – there continue to be regular attempts to get through the border. This week, the body of a Yemeni man was found on the Polish side – the 14th recorded death since the start of the crisis.

The restrictions apply to an area compromising 183 municipalities along the border. Among those exempt from the ban are people who live and work in the area; the emergency services and soldiers; and people “dealing with official matters or taking part in religious worship”.

Anyone else – including journalists or aid workers – is only allowed to enter if they receive special permission, and they remain under the supervision of the border guard during their visit.

Polls have found that a majority of the Polish public support the government’s response to the border crisis, but also that most people think humanitarian groups and the media should be given access to the area.

Main image credit: Agnieszka Sadowska/ Agencja Wyborcza.pl

Agnieszka Wądołowska

Agnieszka Wądołowska is deputy editor of Notes from Poland. She has previously worked for Gazeta.pl and Tokfm.pl and contributed to Gazeta Wyborcza, Wysokie Obcasy, Duży Format, Midrasz and Kultura Liberalna