Poland sends SMS to migrants at the border: ‘Go back to Minsk!’ | Abroad

The text also states that the migrants run the risk of being locked up if they do cross the border, because it concerns illegal migration. Attached to the text message is a link to websites with explanations in Arabic, English, Russian and French about the Polish policy for illegal migrants.

In recent months, thousands of migrants, mainly from the Middle East, have tried to enter the EU countries of Poland, Latvia and Lithuania from Belarus. The regime of Belarusian leader Lukashenko is letting them pass in retaliation for EU sanctions. The three countries have declared a state of emergency, erected fences and deployed their military.

Put in prison

Polish authorities reported this week that they have stopped 8,200 migrants trying to enter Poland since early August. About 12,000 migrants managed to cross the border. They have been imprisoned. Polish customs said 473 migrants were stopped at the border on Tuesday alone.

Belarus was handed numerous punitive measures last year for brutally crushing the protest movement in the country. It came to its feet around the election victory of a year ago, according to the EU, stolen by President Aleksandr Lukashenko. Lukashenko hit back by, among other things, bringing Iraqi migrants to his country and putting them across the border with EU countries Lithuania, Poland and Latvia. He also ended cooperation with the EU to combat illegal migration and return migrants who are not welcome in the Union.

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