Polish Members of Parliament (MP) have approved a controversial measure authorizing security forces on the Belarusian border to use live ammunition against migrants. The new law, passed on July 12, allows soldiers, border guards, and police officers to fire live rounds “preventively” or in “self-defense” if anyone attempts to cross the border irregularly. This decision has sparked outrage among NGOs, who argue that the situation in the area is already tense and precarious.
The law was approved by 401 MPs, with only 17 opposing it, and is now moving to the Senate for approval. According to the new legislation, border agents can use their weapons without facing liability if their lives, health, or freedom are threatened during illegal border crossings. Human rights defenders are deeply concerned, with some describing the law as granting the police “a right to kill.”
Bartek Rumienczyk, communications manager for the Grupa Granica association, stated that the law will worsen an already difficult situation at the Belarusian border. The creation of a buffer zone has made it nearly impossible to document the activities in the region, including violence by border guards. This new measure will further complicate the work of NGOs and increase the danger for asylum seekers.
In June, pro-European Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the establishment of a 200-meter wide, 60-kilometer long buffer zone along the border, restricted to police access only. This follows a similar decision in November 2021 by the previous nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government, during a large influx of migrants. The Polish government has expressed concerns about the impact of migration on the economy, environment, health, and agricultural sectors, with migrants often spending nights in forests and olive farms near the coast of Sfax.
Dinushika Dissanayake, Amnesty International Europe deputy director, warned that the new law creates a dangerous precedent for the use of firearms in Poland. She emphasized that under international law, the use of force must be necessary and proportionate to the threat posed. The notion of “preventive” self-defense is inconsistent with international standards and could lead to abusive practices.
Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak announced additional financial investments for modernizing the border fence, which now includes a double 5.5-meter high metal barrier. The Polish government has pledged unlimited spending to secure the border, with significant upgrades expected by October. This decision comes in a tense context, highlighted by the death of a Polish soldier in June and the arrest of three border guards in March for using firearms on migrants.
The new law adds to the opacity of police operations at the border. NGOs and migrants frequently report police violence, with instances of “pushbacks” towards Belarus increasing. Grupa Granica reported that 66 people, including minors and pregnant women, were turned back to Belarus despite having power of attorney for their asylum requests. This indicates a blatant disregard for the right to asylum at the border, particularly in the absence of NGOs to observe and document these actions.
Since 2021, thousands of migrants have attempted to enter the European Union via Poland, with over 17,000 illegal crossing attempts from Belarus reported this year. The Polish border guards attribute the crisis to “hybrid actions” by Belarus, accusing President Alexander Lukashenko of creating and controlling the migration route as part of a “hybrid war.”
Migrants are caught in a perilous situation, facing both diplomatic manipulation and harsh Polish migration policies. Azzedine, a young Sudanese man now in Warsaw, recounted being pushed back to Belarus eight times despite requesting asylum. He described the brutal treatment by border guards, who beat the migrants, destroyed their phones, and sprayed gas in their eyes. Azzedine’s story reflects the harsh realities faced by those seeking safety and protection in Europe.
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