The opening of border crossings with Belarus in Poland depends on the release of journalist Andrzej Poczobut, who is in a Belarusian prison. This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland Radoslaw Sikorski, UNN reports with reference to RMF 24.
Details
Sikorski, answering a question about the possibility of reopening the border crossings (currently there is only one in Terespol), reminded that the decision to close the Bobruisk checkpoint was made by the previous Polish government in response to the political process and the conviction of Andrzej Poczobut. However, according to him, "the date of opening depends on the duration of Andrzej Poczobut's imprisonment".
The minister noted that the Polish authorities invariably separate ordinary Belarusians from the authorities in Minsk, as evidenced, among other things, by the fact that Belarusian citizens, unlike Russian citizens, can enter Poland in their private cars (a restriction resulting from EU sanctions).
The Foreign Minister also recalled that at a time when there were no political prisoners in Belarus, Poland took steps to launch small-scale border traffic, but Minsk was not ready for it.
Зі штаб-квартири НАТО звільняють генерала з Польщі - Rzeczpospolita03.08.24, 15:07
Sikorski was also asked about the difficulties Belarusians face in obtaining Polish visas. The main reason, apart from a sharp reduction in the number of consuls by the Belarusian side, is the activity of the "visa mafia" in Belarus, which "hacks" the electronic registration system in order to sell places for an additional fee. This amount is at least 200 euros:
"This is a common crime. We do not know whether it is the work of the Belarusian special services or some criminal elements. But from Warsaw, I will not put things in order with Belarusian criminals. We hope that the new IT system (which Poland is working on) will reduce the scale of this phenomenon," Sikorski said.
He added that Poland has recently made a number of changes to the visa regime for Belarusians, including regulating the issue of humanitarian visas for those fleeing repression.
Unfortunately, the Belarusians are citizens of a regime that violates the principles of international coexistence. let me remind you that Belarus is abusing the Interpol system. I would also like to remind you that part of the sanctions were imposed because Belarus de facto hijacked a European airplane and forced it to land in Minsk using deception in order to arrest an opposition activist. This was done by the Belarusian authorities
Speaking about Andrzej Poczobut, who is imprisoned in Belarus, Sikorski noted that "negotiations (with the authorities in Minsk) are too strong a word.
"The Belarusian side knows that for reasons of cultural solidarity, the case of Andrzej Poczobut, a Belarusian citizen but a Pole by culture and identity, is particularly close to us, and we consider the charges against him to be completely fabricated," Sikorski said.
He also emphasized that for all other political prisoners in Belarus (almost 1400 people - ed. note), Poland is "fighting together with the entire EU," and Lukashenka knows that without an end to repression, "there will be no return to playing with the West.
For reference
Andrzej Poczobut was arrested in Belarus in 2021. He was detained after searches in his apartment in Hrodna. After a Belarusian court sentenced the journalist to 8 years in a maximum security colony for "calling for actions to the detriment of Belarus," Poland suspended border crossings at Bobrowniki.
Туск: Польща відіграла ключову роль в обміні ув'язненими між РФ та Заходом02.08.24, 01:32