Closure of Polish checkpoint affects third country carriers – Belarusian ministry

February 22, BPN. Minsk says Poland’s decision to shut down the Kukuryki-Kazłovičy border checkpoint has affected carriers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and other countries.

Since the decision came into force, Poland has forced 17 lorries belonging to these carriers back into Belarus, the Belarusian transport ministry said.

The decision had no impact on Minsk because the European Union had “closed Belarusian freight traffic through its territory in April last year,” it added.

Poland blocked traffic at the Kukuryki-Kazłovičy checkpoint on February 21.

The decision by Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński came in response to restrictions imposed by the Belarusian authorities on Polish carriers.

After a Belarusian court sentenced Polish minority activist Andrzej Poczobut (Andrej Pačobut) to eight years in prison in early February, Poland closed the key Bobrowniki road checkpoint, and Belarus restricted traffic for Polish lorries and tractor trucks to the Polish section of the border.

 Belarus has reportedly expelled a Polish Border Guard liaison officer and two Polish consuls.