Minsk warns of possible collapse over Poland’s closure of border crossing

February 10, BPN. Poland’s decision to close the Bierastavica-Bobrowniki border crossing may “lead to a collapse on both sides of the border,” the Belarusian State Border Committee said.

“The decision by the Polish side to close another channel of international communication is not really aimed at ensuring public security, but at further exacerbating the situation on the border and restricting cross-border travel,” its statement reads.

Border guards also warned that the two remaining border crossings will reach their critical capacity.

Out of the six checkpoints at the Belarus-Poland border, only Brest – Terespol will be handling passenger traffic, while Kazłovičy – Kururyki remains open for cargo traffic. The Brest checkpoint’s maximum daily traffic capacity (from Belarus to Poland) is 1,700 passenger vehicles. Other checkpoints had been closed earlier by the decision of the Polish side, the border committee said.

On February 9, Mariusz Kamiński, Polish interior minister, said that Poland will close the checkpoint at noon on February 10 until further notice “in connection with a matter of state security.”

Kamiński tweeted his decision a minute after Warsaw had announced that it would impose new sanctions on Belarus over a lengthy prison sentence for a Polish minority activist and journalist Andrzej Poczobut. Judge Dźmitryj Bubienčyk sentenced the Gazeta Wyborcza contributor to eight years in prison on charges of inciting hatred and calling for sanctions.

The Belarusian foreign ministry has expressed “strong protest” against the border crossing closure to Martin Wojciechowski, Polish chargé d’affaires, foreign ministry’s press office said on February 10.