The head of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen on November 8 called on the EU countries to agree on an expanded list of sanctions against the Belarusian authorities due to the situation on the border with Poland. In addition, she added that the EC will consider the possibility of introducing sanctions against airlines from third countries.
“I call on EU member states to finally approve an expanded sanctions regime against the Belarusian authorities responsible for this hybrid attack,” she said in a statement on the situation on the border between Poland and Belarus.
According to her, the republic should stop endangering people’s lives, because “the use of migrants by Belarus for political purposes is unacceptable.”
“The EU will consider how to impose sanctions, including through blacklisting, third-country airlines” involved in the movement of people, said the head of the EC.
Von der Leyen stressed that the European Commission, together with the UN and its specialized agencies, will study methods of preventing a humanitarian crisis, including considering the issue of how to ensure the safe return of migrants to their countries of origin with the support of national authorities.
On the same day, the Polish Border Guard announced that from the morning of November 9, the checkpoint “Kuznitsa Belostokskaya” across the border with Belarus would be closed due to the migration situation. The Border Committee of Belarus, in turn, sees no reason for Poland to close the Kuznitsa Belostokskaya checkpoint.
Earlier it was reported that migrants, who are trying to break into Poland from Belarus, set up camp near the village of Kuznitsy, not far from the border checkpoint.
Earlier that day, it became known that a large group of refugees with belongings in Belarus was moving along the road to the border with Poland. It was later reported that the migrants turned off the road into the forest. From the side of Belarus, the reserve of the Grodno border group was attracted to ensure security on the border section.
The Polish Gazeta.pl claims that the migrants allegedly have no opportunity to go to the official border crossing in Kuznica, where they intended to go. In this regard, there is a crush and excitement is observed.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki convened an anti-crisis headquarters, the country also increased its combat readiness, and sent anti-terrorist units to the border. In addition, Lithuania began the redeployment of troops due to the situation with migrants.
In addition, Polish President Andrzej Duda called an urgent meeting due to the situation with migrants on the border with Belarus.
The Kremlin called the situation with migrants in Belarus difficult. The press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov indicated that a large burden falls on the shoulders of the republic’s authorities, which, in turn, are taking all the necessary measures.