Moscow: European Union and Belarus Supporters of the West and Minsk are locked in a standoff over the migrants against the backdrop of tensions between Moscow.
Here’s what you need to know about the crisis that has seen thousands of migrants trapped in dire conditions at the Belarus-Poland border.
Since the summer, thousands of migrants, mostly from the Middle East, have come to Belarus to try to enter Europe via neighboring EU member states Poland, Latvia or Lithuania.
The West accused Minsk of luring migrants into the European Union with promises of easy passage and then forcing them to stay at the border as retaliation for restrictions imposed on the suppression of dissent in the former Soviet country.
Concerned not to repeat the 2015 migration crisis, the European Union has backed Poland, Latvia and Lithuania, which have closed their borders despite the deaths of nearly a dozen migrants.
On Tuesday, Warsaw forces fired tear gas and water cannon in freezing temperatures at a crowd of hundreds advancing to the border post after a week of temporary camp stays.
Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blazzac warned on Wednesday that the crisis could last “months or even years”.
About 4,000 people are believed to be currently stranded on the Polish border, where most of the migrants are concentrated.
In a sign that the crisis was deepening, Belarusian authorities this week placed nearly 1,000 migrants in “logistics centres” – a move that could make the camp a semi-permanent presence at EU borders.
EU accuses Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko The West faced an engineering crisis to force Europeans to restart talks after his regime launched crackdowns on the opposition in the wake of last year’s presidential election.
The mighty, who ruled Belarus with an iron fist for nearly three decades, denies the claims.
This week he spoke twice on the telephone with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel In his first meeting with a Western leader since last year.
On Wednesday his office said direct talks between Belarus and the European Union were imminent.
However, Germany has not confirmed the direct talks.
Instead Berlin outlined a process to provide humanitarian aid and repatriate migrants affiliated with the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration, in cooperation with the European Commission.
Still, Merkel’s spokesman Stefan Seibert said on Wednesday that talking to Minsk is useful “to rectify this humanitarian situation”, even if the talks are with a leader whose legitimacy is not recognized by Europe and Germany.
For Warsaw, the crisis is an opportunity to restore its image in the eyes of its allies, who accuse the Polish authorities of flouting principles such as the independence of the judiciary and the primacy of the law.
By remaining stable and closing its borders, Poland is acting as a rampart – the first in Europe’s line of defense to stop the influx of migrants.
Lukashenko’s main political and financial backer Moscow, for its part, has positioned itself as a mediator, welcoming direct contact between the EU and Minsk on Wednesday.
The migrants – mostly Iraqi Kurds – have left everything in their countries, spending thousands of dollars to reach Belarus on tourist visas determined to reach Europe.
But EU borders seem impenetrable, with both the Baltic states and Poland determined to block their passage, no matter the cost in terms of image.
Warsaw has deployed thousands of troops to the border and even plans to build a wall.
As winter approaches, colder conditions will only make life more difficult for migrants whose current options are limited: stay in Belarus and hope Europe reconsiders, or return home.
200 to 300 Iraqis seem to have already made their choice: a repatriation flight from Minsk is due to bring them back to Iraq on Thursday.
Here’s what you need to know about the crisis that has seen thousands of migrants trapped in dire conditions at the Belarus-Poland border.
Since the summer, thousands of migrants, mostly from the Middle East, have come to Belarus to try to enter Europe via neighboring EU member states Poland, Latvia or Lithuania.
The West accused Minsk of luring migrants into the European Union with promises of easy passage and then forcing them to stay at the border as retaliation for restrictions imposed on the suppression of dissent in the former Soviet country.
Concerned not to repeat the 2015 migration crisis, the European Union has backed Poland, Latvia and Lithuania, which have closed their borders despite the deaths of nearly a dozen migrants.
On Tuesday, Warsaw forces fired tear gas and water cannon in freezing temperatures at a crowd of hundreds advancing to the border post after a week of temporary camp stays.
Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blazzac warned on Wednesday that the crisis could last “months or even years”.
About 4,000 people are believed to be currently stranded on the Polish border, where most of the migrants are concentrated.
In a sign that the crisis was deepening, Belarusian authorities this week placed nearly 1,000 migrants in “logistics centres” – a move that could make the camp a semi-permanent presence at EU borders.
EU accuses Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko The West faced an engineering crisis to force Europeans to restart talks after his regime launched crackdowns on the opposition in the wake of last year’s presidential election.
The mighty, who ruled Belarus with an iron fist for nearly three decades, denies the claims.
This week he spoke twice on the telephone with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel In his first meeting with a Western leader since last year.
On Wednesday his office said direct talks between Belarus and the European Union were imminent.
However, Germany has not confirmed the direct talks.
Instead Berlin outlined a process to provide humanitarian aid and repatriate migrants affiliated with the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration, in cooperation with the European Commission.
Still, Merkel’s spokesman Stefan Seibert said on Wednesday that talking to Minsk is useful “to rectify this humanitarian situation”, even if the talks are with a leader whose legitimacy is not recognized by Europe and Germany.
For Warsaw, the crisis is an opportunity to restore its image in the eyes of its allies, who accuse the Polish authorities of flouting principles such as the independence of the judiciary and the primacy of the law.
By remaining stable and closing its borders, Poland is acting as a rampart – the first in Europe’s line of defense to stop the influx of migrants.
Lukashenko’s main political and financial backer Moscow, for its part, has positioned itself as a mediator, welcoming direct contact between the EU and Minsk on Wednesday.
The migrants – mostly Iraqi Kurds – have left everything in their countries, spending thousands of dollars to reach Belarus on tourist visas determined to reach Europe.
But EU borders seem impenetrable, with both the Baltic states and Poland determined to block their passage, no matter the cost in terms of image.
Warsaw has deployed thousands of troops to the border and even plans to build a wall.
As winter approaches, colder conditions will only make life more difficult for migrants whose current options are limited: stay in Belarus and hope Europe reconsiders, or return home.
200 to 300 Iraqis seem to have already made their choice: a repatriation flight from Minsk is due to bring them back to Iraq on Thursday.
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