Opposition says Poland’s closure of border crossing justified response to lawlessness in Belarus

February 14, BPN. The Belarusian opposition’s cabinet supports the decision by the Polish government to close the Bierastavica-Bobrowniki border crossing, its statement reads.

It described the closure as an “adequate response” to “lawlessness in Belarus, the increasing number of political prisoners and their inhumane treatment in custody.”

Warsaw’s move limits the regime’s ability to finance reprisals, it noted.

The opposition urged all countries committed to a democratic and independent Belarus, to keep up pressure on the Belarusian authorities to end the crackdown and free all political prisoners.

The pressure should inflict damage on [Alaksandr] Lukashenka’s regime, the cabinet stressed. At the same time, it noted the importance of having travel routes open, including humanitarian corridors for Belarusians fleeing persecution.

Poland closed the Bierastavica-Bobrowniki border crossing on February 10 citing national security concerns.

It announced the closure along with new Polish sanctions on Belarus over a lengthy prison sentence for a Polish minority activist and journalist Andrzej Poczobut, sentenced to eight years in prison on politically-motivated 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. Any attempts to pressure Belarus would be counterproductive, the foreign ministry said.

The move aggravates the very difficult situation on the Belarusian-Polish border, violating the rights of thousands of people from various countries, including Poland and Belarus, it noted.