Clashes erupted at the Polish-Belarusian border between Polish border guards and stranded refugees at the Polish-Belarusian border early on Tuesday.
As per reports from Poland’s Ministry of National Defence (MOD) refugees trying to cross into Poland at the Kuznica border crossing allegedly threw stones at the Polish guards, who responded by using water cannons and tear gas.
The MOD said, “The migrants attacked our soldiers and guards with stones and are trying to force the fence to get to the Polish territory.
“Our forces used tear gas to thwart the aggression of migrants.”
Marta Szymanderska member of a coalition of NGOs responding to the humanitarian crisis at the border, known as Grupa Granica, “The use of force [by Poland] is completely unjustifiable because there are legal procedures which should be used from the very beginning. The actions of the Polish forces are not only illegal but also inhuman.”
At least one policeman was wounded but it is unclear if there were any injuries among refugees.
The Polish Border Guard said, “Illegal migrants have been gathering at the border crossing in Kuźnica, at the Belarusian side. New groups, which so far have been squatting at the border, are joining them. An attempt to forcefully cross the border is being prepared. Everything is taking place under the supervision of Belarusian forces.”
More Polish police and security forces reached the border early on Tuesday to avoid what Polish authorities claimed was an attempt by migrants to illegally cross into Polish territory.
Video footage shared on social media shows people near the border running away after being sprayed with water cannon.
The situation appeared calmer by the afternoon.
Thousands of refugees and migrants are stuck in a no-man’s land between the Belarusian and Polish borders owing to an East-West geopolitical crisis involving Warsaw and its allies, and Minsk and Moscow.
As per international law, people seeking asylum have the right to claim it at the official border crossings.
However, Polish border guards have been denying that right to many asylum seekers who have attempted to cross the border.
The crisis unfolded in August, since then Polish guards have been reportedly sending back people who managed to cross into the Polish territory from Belarus.
A large number of refugees are spending weeks in the woodlands which cover the border, in an effort to leave the border zone and seek asylum.
Polish authorities passed a law that effectively legalizes pushbacks, even though the practice remains doubtful according to international law.
Furthermore, the border area has been marked as a state of emergency effectively keeping media and NGOs away from the area and unable to collect information or provide humanitarian assistance to migrants.
The international community blames Belarus responsible for the crisis.
Earlier this year, Minsk removed visas for citizens belonging to a number of Middle Eastern and African states and opened several tourist agencies offering an easy and cheap way to enter Europe.
Critics of Belarus are of the view that the move might be an act of revenge against Poland, which showed support to last year’s protests against longtime ruler President Alexander Lukashenko.
Activists on the ground in Poland, who are providing refugees with food, water, and sleeping bags, are alarmed by the developments.
