Poland: Belarus troops threatened firefight in border area | Abroad

Relations between Belarus and EU countries have deteriorated sharply since the controversial re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the Eastern European country for more than a quarter of a century. Belarusian security forces cracked down on protesting civilians who believe election fraud has been committed after the polls last August. The EU then decided to impose sanctions.

Poland and the EU think Belarus is now hitting back by allowing large groups of asylum seekers to cross the border. The ministry says Polish troops had encountered about 250 migrants. “The Belarusian soldiers who were guarding them threatened to open fire on our soldiers.” According to the department, they were not provoked.

It is not the first incident on the Polish border. The situation has escalated further and further in recent times. Poland has also accused Belarus of an armed incursion. Uniformed figures with guns were said to have crossed the border at night in early November. Belarus denied that allegation, accusing Poland of deliberately increasing tensions in the border area.

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