Poland closes border with Belarus-Minister
2023.02.09 08:18
Poland closes border with Belarus-Minister
By Kristina Sobol
Budrigannews.com – As tensions between Warsaw and Minsk rise to new lows, the Polish interior minister announced on Thursday that Poland would temporarily close a crucial border crossing with Belarus.
On Wednesday, a journalist of Polish descent was given a sentence of eight years in prison by a Belarusian court in a case that Warsaw claims was politically motivated, further strained relations between Poland and Belarus.
Mariusz Kaminski posted on Twitter, “Due to the important interest of state security, I decided to suspend traffic at the Polish-Belarusian border crossing in Bobrowniki until further notice from 1200 on February 10 this year.”
One of the most important points of entry between Poland and Belarus is Bobrowniki, located more than 200 kilometers northeast of Warsaw.
In addition, Kaminski stated that he would apply for additional individuals associated with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to be added to lists of sanctions in light of the imprisonment of journalist Andrzej Poczobut.
The Belarusian embassy in Warsaw and the Belarusian foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Since Russia, a Belarusian ally, invaded Ukraine in February of last year, Warsaw has emerged as one of Ukraine’s most steadfast allies. Poland has emerged as a crucial haven for opponents of the Lukashenko regime.
Poland and the European Union claimed in 2021 that Belarus had orchestrated a migrant crisis on its borders, a claim Belarus denies.
Recently, Poland has voiced its disapproval of Polish graveyard vandalism in Belarus.
Since the west of Belarus was Polish territory until the borders were redrawn after World War II, thousands of Polish people live there.
