Belarus-Poland: Two migrant camps in Bruges were evacuated

Immigrants trapped on the border between Belarus and Poland fled the two camps near Brugeski, and many were taken by Belarusian authorities to warehouses far from the spot.

Thousands of migrants set up makeshift camps last week, and many tried to cross into Poland from various locations amid escalating tensions with Polish security forces trying to stop them.

The liquidation of the camps marks a significant development in this crisis and the confrontation between Minsk and Brussels.

The Belarusian news agency Belta reported that the migrants who had settled in the forest were transported to a warehouse, far from the border. A representative of the Polish border guard confirmed that the camps were evacuated. “They are now empty, the migrants were probably taken to the smuggling center, which is not far from the Bruzgi border crossing,” he said.

“There were no other such camps (…) but there were groups appearing elsewhere, trying to cross the border. We will see what happens in the next few hours (…) There are still some people around here, but it is obvious that they are emptying (the camps ) “, this source added.

European countries accuse Belarus of deliberately provoking the crisis by airlifting migrants from the Middle East and forcing them to cross illegally into Poland and Lithuania. Minsk denies inciting a wave of immigration.

In recent weeks, hundreds of migrants have been trying to cross the border every night and clashing with Polish security forces. About ten people are believed to have died in the cold.

The evacuation of the camps comes at a time of intense diplomatic efforts. In the last three days, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has twice spoken by telephone with Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, a leader with whom Europeans avoid any contact.

“Misinformation”

Earlier, Belarus announced that Mr Lukashenko had proposed to Merkel a plan to resolve the crisis, under which the EU would receive 2,000 migrants and Minsk would send the remaining 5,000 back home.

Shortly before the announcement, the European Commission said there would be no negotiations with Belarus on the fate of the migrants, and shortly afterwards German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer called the “news” that the EU would receive 2,000 “misinformation”. Immigrants.

A German government source stressed that Berlin has not reached any agreement with Lukashenko to resolve the crisis. “The situation at the border is a European problem and Germany is not acting alone,” he said.

For his part, Polish Prime Minister Matthew Morawiecki condemned any attempt to formally negotiate with the Lukashenko regime, saying it would amount to “legitimacy”.

“We have to realize that any direct conversation with Lukashenko helps him because he legitimizes his regime,” Morawiecki told reporters.

Earlier, the Polish prime minister spoke with his Iraqi counterpart, Mustafa al-Kadimi, who promised to help repatriate would-be Iraqi migrants, while banning flights from Baghdad to Minsk would continue.

SOURCE: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ