Warsaw adopts controversial migration strategy
October 16, Pozirk. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the adoption of a comprehensive new migration strategy in yesterday’s post on X, following the government’s meeting that discussed the migration crisis at the Polish-Belarusian border.
The Polish government has not yet made public any details, but a few days ago, Tusk said that the strategy might temporarily suspend the right to asylum in Poland.
The measure may affect thousands of Belarusians seeking asylum in Poland amid political reprisals in their country.
Following the 2020 political crisis in Belarus, Poland became a primary destination for Belarusians fleeing politically-motivated persecution at home.
More than 118,000 Belarusian nationals resided in Poland in late 2023, including 578 with refugee status.
Since January, some 12,300 foreigners, including 2,900 Belarusians and 4,500 Ukrainians, have applied for asylum in Poland.
Tusk’s plan to suspend asylum procedures may be directed against migrants from third countries, not nationals of Belarus and Ukraine, Polish diplomat Mariusz Maszkiewicz said yesterday at an online meeting hosted by Belarusian Free University.
Polish parliamentary speaker skeptical about Tusk’s asylum halt proposal
October 15, Pozirk. Szymon Hołownia, speaker of the Polish parliament, has expressed skepticism about Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s proposal to suspend asylum procedures, describing it as an extreme measure. Poland could stop considering asylum requests in a constitutionally valid case, …