Migrants and Soldiers
The Crisis on the Polish-Belarusian Border
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
Poland reacted quickly and cruelly to the growing number of migrants on its border with Belarus. The national government in Warsaw saw in this an attempt by the regime in Minsk to destabilize Poland and responded by sealing the green border with barriers and deploying a massive contingent of border guards and soldiers to the region. Laws were also tightened. Polish and inter-national human rights organizations have criticized the violation of international law, while the church has taken a mediating position. For the government, the crisis has a strong security policy dimension. It perceives an act of hybrid warfare involving Russia. Warsaw has received far-reaching support within the European Union. However, the attempt to divert attention from the conflict with Brussels over the rule of law has not succeeded.
(Osteuropa 8-9/2021, pp. 39–52)