The attention of the world has been captured by recent events on the borders between Belarus, Poland, and Lithuania. A significant military exercise involving Belarusian and Russian paratroopers is taking place there amidst a standoff between Belarus and the European Union (EU). The conflict involves migrants camped in freezing forests at the frontier, adding an urgent humanitarian dimension to the situation.
The Backdrop: Political Turmoil in Belarus and Resultant Sanctions
The genesis of the current crisis can be traced back to the political unrest following the August 2020 election in Belarus. The incumbent authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko secured a sixth term in office, but his victory was widely disputed. Demonstrations erupted across the nation, resulting in severe retaliatory measures from the Belarusian authorities that included mass arrests and police brutality.
In response to these events, the EU and the US imposed sanctions on the Belarusian government. Matters escalated in May 2021 when Belarus forcibly diverted a passenger jet to arrest an opposition journalist – an act Western powers condemned as “state piracy”. The resultant strengthening of sanctions led to Belarus’ decision to cease activities preventing illegal migration into the EU.
Current Predicament: Migrant Crisis on EU Borders
Currently, thousands of people, including women and children, originally from the Middle East find themselves in a dire predicament. They are camped on the border with Poland, enduring freezing conditions. Poland’s right-wing populist Law and Justice party (PiS) government, known for its anti-immigrant stance, has denied aid organizations access to the stranded migrants, violating the United Nations Refugee Convention 1951.
Russia’s Involvement: Support for Belarus
Russia, Belarus’ principal ally, has been vocal in its support for Lukashenko’s administration. It has laid the blame for the migrant flows at the US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Western-backed Arab Spring uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa. In response to Poland’s troop build-up along its border with Belarus, Russia dispatched strategic, long-range Tu-22M3 bombers to patrol the border.
EU’s Stand: Solidarity and Accusations
The EU has demonstrated solidarity with Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia amidst the crisis. It has accused Belarus of waging a “hybrid attack” against the bloc by deliberately facilitating the illegal migration of thousands from West Asia into Poland. Officials are expected to discuss another round of sanctions against Belarus soon. Neighboring nations have voiced concerns that the crisis could escalate into a military conflict.
Global Reactions and Way Forward
The international community has rallied against Belarus. Western members of the United Nations Security Council have denounced the country for the escalating migrant crisis at its border with Poland. Organizations like the UN Refugee Agency and the International Organization for Migration are advocating for an urgent resolution and for unhindered access to the EU for the stranded migrants.
As winter approaches, the future of the migrants remains uncertain. There have been calls for the EU to apply pressure on Poland to work towards a humane solution, potentially with assistance from international organizations. However, with further sanctions against Belarus likely and neither Hungary nor Poland seeming willing to aid the migrants, the situation remains tense. The international community watches on with trepidation as the standoff continues.