The uncertain fate of migrants and the dispute over border control between Poland and Belarus

The Belarusian president has opened the way for migrants, including Iranians, to enter the country in order to put pressure on the European Union. Migrants can cross the Polish and Lithuanian borders through Belarusian territory to reach Western Europe.

A number of EU member states have called for border controls with Belarus, including Poland, which is already building a fence on its border with Belarus to prevent illegal immigrants from entering its territory and, through it, the European Union.

A similar situation has arisen on the Lithuanian border, while some other countries consider such a move to be incorrect and contrary to the values ​​of the European Union.

The issue comes after the announcement of the results of the controversial Belarusian election and the victory of Alexander Lukashenko. The Belarusian government's crackdown on protesters led the European Union to consider sanctions against the country.

Now, in order to put pressure on European Union member states, Belarus has canceled visas for citizens of some countries, including Iran, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq.

In this way, refugees from these countries, including Afghan refugees, can travel to Belarus and reach Central and Western Europe through the country's shared borders with Poland and Lithuania.

Different reactions from European countries

The request to temporarily close Germany's border with Poland was initially made by the German Federal Police Union, a request that was opposed by German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer.

Instead of closing the country's border with Poland, Germany's Interior Minister has spoken of the country's readiness to cooperate with Polish border guards.

On the other hand, the issue of border controls between Poland and Belarus has come up. Manfred Weber, leader of the European People's Party, has asked the European Commission to financially support a plan to create a barrier to the entry of illegal immigrants from Belarus into Poland.

This is despite the fact that the European Commission has opposed this request, believing that creating such obstacles would effectively mean falling into a trap set by Alexander Lukashenko.

On the other hand, Moritz Körner, a representative of the Free Democratic Party in the European Parliament, believes that building a border fence will not prevent migrants from entering the European Union.

Koerner believes that raising such an issue by Poland and some EU politicians is actually rooted in populist propaganda.

Tracking the status of Iranian immigrants

Kazem Sajjadi, the deputy consular officer of the Islamic Republic, reported on his visit to Belarus that he is following up on the unclear and ambiguous situation of Iranian citizens on that country's borders with Lithuania and Poland.

On Thursday, October 28, the Iranian student news agency ISNA published a report in this regard, stating that Sajjadi had consulted with Belarusian authorities about the situation of Iranian citizens.

On the other hand, it has been said that Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic, had a telephone conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus in this regard.

It should be noted that the claim by the Islamic Republic authorities to address the situation of Iranian citizens "caught in the cold" at the Belarusian border is effectively a veil over the fact that these Iranian citizens have been forced to leave their homeland and attempt to immigrate to Europe due to the existence of the Islamic Republic government.

Source: DW