The hybrid operation at the Polish-Belarusian border is part of a broader effort by Russia to weaken Western institutions, according to Stanisław Żaryn, Poland’s Government Plenipotentiary for the Security of the Information Space. He stressed that Poland cannot align with actions taken by Belarus and Russia.
Żaryn cited events along the two nations’ border as an example. Media reports describe a large group of people, including children, who cannot return to Belarus and are seeking asylum in Poland.
As of 2021, discussions describe a hybrid operation in this situation. Belarus and Russia are said to manage migratory pressure by presenting it as a migration crisis, while real actions remain hidden. Poland has stated its disagreement with the conduct of Belarus and Russia, viewing the operation as an assault on Western structures. Żaryn shared these concerns on social media.
He drew a parallel to the situation at Usnarz, where Afghans who had resided in Russia for years were used to exert pressure on Polish authorities to permit an illegal migration route controlled by Russia and Belarus.
According to Żaryn, activist circles and some media outlets appear to support the aggressor by participating in the hybrid operation and placing information pressure on Polish authorities.
In association with these statements, Żaryn referenced press coverage from Gazeta Wyborcza, OKO.press, and Onet. He noted, citing the Granica Group, that a group of people, including children, sought asylum by attempting to cross the border fencing near Poland and Belarus.
Refugees reportedly described an inability to reach officials. They claimed they could not receive water or food, and they faced threats on the other side in Belarus by border authorities.
– Dominika Ożyńska of the Granica Group told OKO.press.
Onet’s reporting described the situation as a crisis. A group of more than 30 individuals, including at least twelve children, remained near the border fence between Poland and Belarus. Among them were two individuals under two years old. They were all pursuing asylum in Poland.
One woman was reported to be in her second month of pregnancy. Ożyńska told Onet that border guards later provided water, food, and basic medical aid to the group.
Until the early evening of Sunday, Polish services did not allow a group of 26 people, mostly women and children, to enter Poland after staying on the other side of a narrow lane at the border since the previous day. The lane measured about 1.2 meters in width, and officials described ongoing attempts to manage the flow of people at the border.
– Wyborcza.pl reported on Sunday.
ROP activities
The ombudsman service joined the case.
Agnieszka Szmajdzińska, head of the Migrants and National Minority Rights Unit, and Maciej Grześkowiak, Chief Coordinator for Strategic Cooperation, arrived to assess the situation and verify humanitarian aid for the foreigners at the site.
– this was stated on the Commissioner’s website.
On May 27, 2023, the Deputy Ombudsman, Wojciech Brzozowski, opened an inquiry into a group of about 25 foreigners staying near a dam along the border. Media reports suggested the group could remain for several days on the eastern side of the dam, possibly still within Polish territory. Photographic evidence provided to the ombudsman showed some members possibly staying as close as one meter from the dam, suggesting proximity to Poland. The majority of the group were said to be Iraqi and Syrian nationals.
– the communication noted.
Brzozowski also spoke by phone with the Podlaski Border Guard Unit commander, Brig. Andrzej Jakubaszek, and sent an additional request for information about the foreigners’ status and whether they were within Polish jurisdiction or under Border Guard supervision. The inquiry asked whether these individuals had expressed willingness to apply for international protection in Poland and what steps the Border Guard had taken to facilitate such applications. It also queried whether any humanitarian options had been considered for those in the group.
– the communiqué emphasized.
The discussion raised questions about potential criticisms faced by border officers defending Poland’s frontiers. Some observers warned that challenges and accusations could intensify in the current climate. A related note reminded readers to review earlier remarks by Żaryn about increased attempts to breach the Polish-Belarusian border. The SG published a related video. [Citation: wPolityce]
Source: wPolityce