Businesses worried about interruptions in imports to Russia through Belarus | News from Germany about Russia

The Foreign Investment Advisory Council (FIAC) sent a letter to the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Andrei Belousov with a request to help in solving the problems of road transportation from Europe to Russia, which arose against the background of the migration crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border, reported on Monday, November 22, the Kommersant newspaper “with a link to a copy of the letter.

The FIAC message, which includes Danone, Mars, Metro, PepsiCo, Sanofi, Coca-Cola and Unilever, among others, notes that about 10% of Russian imports in kind, including goods essential necessities, and more than 90% of supplies are made up of cars.

“At the Bobrovniki checkpoint on the border with Poland, queues of trucks with a length of more than 25 km have formed, the crossing time has increased to 80 hours, while a day of idle time for one car costs at least € 500,” the letter dated November 18 says. Traffic jams also appear on alternative routes through Lithuania and Latvia. In these directions, the cost per car is at least 300 euros higher.

Risks of rising prices

“The persistence of the current situation can significantly affect the supply chain and the availability of goods for the population, especially given the increasing freight turnover and increased demand for products on the eve of the New Year holidays,” the FIAC warned. Business representatives asked Andrey Belousov to ensure coordination between departments and prepare for an increase in freight traffic across the Russian-Latvian border.

The press service of the Russian government said it has not yet received letters from the FIAC. The Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation declined to comment. Large retailers have faced import delays, and suppliers warn of risks of price increases. Market participants and experts do not see an obvious logistical solution, counting on a political settlement of the issue, Kommersant notes.

On the eve of the Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki said that against the background of the migration crisis Warsaw is considering the possibility of further tightening economic sanctions against Belarus, including the complete closure of the border, transit and trade.

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How the Belarusian transit of migrants to the EU works
On the border with Poland
A large number of illegal migrants from Syria and Iraq have now accumulated on the border of Belarus and Poland, who are trying to get into the EU. They are trying to break through the barbed wire fence set up by Poland. In May, Lukashenka announced that Minsk would no longer deter refugees from further traveling to EU countries, and since then the number of illegal migrants has grown significantly.

How the Belarusian transit of migrants to the EU works
Trapped between Poland and Belarus
Migrants are actually stuck on the border between Poland and Belarus. The Polish side does not allow them to enter the EU, pointing out that there are no grounds for entry and that they are an instrument of hybrid attacks on the part of Lukashenka. The ruler of Belarus is accused of provoking a migration crisis by organizing the transfer of thousands of illegal migrants to the EU borders.

How the Belarusian transit of migrants to the EU works
Delivered to the border from Minsk
According to migrants, travel agencies in their countries sell air tickets to Minsk and issue them a 30-day visa. The cost together with the services of “carriers” is up to 20,000 euros. From Minsk, depending on the package of services purchased, they are either taken to the hotel or sent to the waiting room. When a group is recruited, they are put on a bus and taken to the border.

How the Belarusian transit of migrants to the EU works
The beginning of the journey of migrants from Iraq
Most of the illegal migrants trying to get to the EU through Belarus are Iraqi citizens. They arrive in Minsk from three cities on the territory of Iraqi Kurdistan: Erbil, Shiladze and Sulaimaniyah. Under pressure from the EU, Iraq has canceled direct flights to Minsk from Baghdad since August. People also travel to Belarus from Syria, Afghanistan, Congo. Migrants reach Minsk via Dubai, Turkey, Lebanon and Ukraine.

How the Belarusian transit of migrants to the EU works
First – a flight to Minsk, then – the border with the EU
Belarus has significantly increased the number of flights from the Middle East to Minsk. Until next March, about 40 weekly flights are planned from the airports of Istanbul, Damascus and Dubai to Minsk – twice as many as a year ago. The air harbors of these cities are currently most often used by migrants for flights to Belarus, in order to travel further to the EU countries.

How the Belarusian transit of migrants to the EU works
Flights with migrants not only at the Minsk airport
Currently, about 800-1000 migrants arrive in Belarus every day. In this regard, five more Belarusian airports may soon be used to service flights from the Middle East. They will go from national to international. One of them is located in the city of Grodno, just 20 kilometers from the Polish border.

How the Belarusian transit of migrants to the EU works
What is happening in the Belarusian border area
In the Belarusian legislation, nothing has changed regarding the visit of the border strip by citizens of Belarus and foreigners. To get here, you must first contact the border service, notify your intentions and get a pass. Violators face fines and deportation. But now there are many illegal immigrants in the border area. They are hiding in the woods, trying to cross the border with Poland.

How the Belarusian transit of migrants to the EU works
Through Belarusian forests – to Poland
According to migrants, Belarusian border guards help them cross to the Polish side – they cut the barbed wire or find a safe loophole with the help of drones. And already in Poland, using geolocation in a smartphone, migrants determine the location of the person who will take them further. For example, to Germany.

How the Belarusian transit of migrants to the EU works
Migrants don’t want to stay in Poland
According to the Dublin regulation, migrants must apply for asylum in the country where they first crossed the EU border. But in Poland refugees prefer not to register and leave their fingerprints in the EU fingerprint database. Many people succeed in this, and therefore the number of refugees that the German authorities can send back to Poland is extremely small.

How the Belarusian transit of migrants to the EU works
Refugee target – Germany
Transport on the Polish side, as a rule, is a small cargo van, in the back of which 30-40 people are packed. An escort car drives ahead of the reconnaissance van. If suddenly there is a check on the road, the route changes. The Polish-German border is crossed in different ways: in the same van, on foot, and by taxi, and by public transport.

How the Belarusian transit of migrants to the EU works
Refugees in Germany
According to the German police, 4,900 migrants illegally entered the FRG through Belarus and Poland in October – twice as many as in September. All illegal migrants caught or voluntarily surrendered to the German authorities are found by police officers with passports stamped by Belarusian border guards.
Author: Natalia Pozdnyakova