{"id":89443,"date":"2024-06-07T11:59:08","date_gmt":"2024-06-07T08:59:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/89443\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"opposition-politician-urges-poland-to-close-railway-crossing-as-migration-tension-mounts","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/89443\/","title":{"rendered":"Opposition politician urges Poland to close railway crossing as migration tension mounts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n Western Bug railway crossing at Belarusian-Polish border\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (Polskie Koleje Pa\u0144stwowe)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

June 7, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Warsaw must send Minsk a strong message in response to the death of a Polish soldier stabbed in the line of duty at the border with Belarus, an exiled Belarusian opposition politician said yesterday in Lublin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The attack occurred on May 28 as a large group of third-country nationals tried to cross from Belarus into Poland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The stabbed soldier died in hospital 10 days later. Warsaw has demanded that Belarus extradite the attacker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poland and Lithuania should close the railway border crossings to crush Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka economically, Pavie\u0142 \u0141atu\u0161ka noted at his meeting with local Belarusians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August 2023, the interior ministers of Poland and the Baltic States warned Minsk that they would close the border with Belarus in response to a surge in illegal migration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But \u0141atu\u0161ka said European politicians lack the political will to tighten sanctions, expressing hope that Warsaw will take a tougher stance \u201cbased on law.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian ruler is responsible for the soldier\u2019s death and continues doing everything to escalate tension with Poland, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The migration crisis started in spring 2021 as \u0141uka\u0161enka’s “revenge for the EU sanctions,” he added, noting that Minsk\u2019s support of Russia’s war on Ukraine should also be regarded from that angle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsk is set to \u201cunsettle the West and stir up tension\u201d in the interests of Russia, which intends to occupy Belarus by non-military means, said the politician, who had fled his country for fear of arrest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moscow has told \u0141uka\u0161enka to destabilize the border to distract Belarus’ western neighbors from helping Ukraine, \u0141atu\u0161ka stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“How will Poles treat you and me after a Polish soldier died today? That was aimed at creating the worst possible living conditions for us [Belarusians in Poland],\u201d the politician noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Illegal border crossings between Belarus and Poland have soared since February, reaching record highs in May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the past few weeks, Polish border guards reported several physical attacks by aggressive migrants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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