This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/news/533280-poland-construction-belarus-border-wall/

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Polish military finishes first 6km of barbed wire wall on Belarusian border, minister says, to halt migrant influx Polish military finishes first 6km of barbed wire wall on Belarusian border, minister says, to halt migrant influx
(2 months later)
The Polish military has started constructing a barrier along the Belarusian border, with soldiers seen erecting barbed wire fences to halt the flow of migrants after thousands tried to enter the country in recent months.The Polish military has started constructing a barrier along the Belarusian border, with soldiers seen erecting barbed wire fences to halt the flow of migrants after thousands tried to enter the country in recent months.
The fence, which defense minister Mariusz Blaszczak this week said will be 2.5 meters tall and stretch for most of the 150-kilometer (93-miles) border with Belarus, is being constructed in a bid to stop the recent influx of migrants.  The fence, which defense minister Mariusz Blaszczak this week said will be 2.5 meters tall and stretch for most of the 150-kilometer (93-miles) border with Belarus, is being constructed in a bid to stop the recent influx of migrants.  
On Friday, Blaszczak posted photos on Twitter showing Polish troops putting a “razor wire” fence in place in “three-layer entanglements”. The minister also said 6km of fencing has been built at this point.On Friday, Blaszczak posted photos on Twitter showing Polish troops putting a “razor wire” fence in place in “three-layer entanglements”. The minister also said 6km of fencing has been built at this point.
Thousands of migrants, believed to be traveling from the Middle East, are thought to have crossed or attempted to cross into Latvia, Lithuania and Poland from neighboring Belarus in the past few months. According to Polish border guards, in August alone they prevented 3,059 illegal attempts to cross the border, with Poland’s defense ministry increasing troop presence in the area. The EU has previously accused Belarus of engaging in a “direct attack” on the bloc and trying to “instrumentalize human beings for political purposes” by pushing migrants towards member state borders. Thousands of migrants, believed to be traveling from the Middle East, are thought to have crossed or attempted to cross into Latvia, Lithuania and Poland from neighboring Belarus in the past few months. According to Polish border guards, in August alone they prevented 3,059 illegal attempts to cross the border, with Poland’s defense ministry increasing troop presence in the area. The EU has previously accused Belarus of engaging in a “direct attack” on the bloc and trying to “instrumentalize human beings for political purposes” by pushing migrants towards member state borders. 
Belarus has refuted the EU’s assessment, but its leader Alexander Lukashenko has said he will not try to halt migrants from crossing into the bloc after its member states imposed sanctions on his administration following a disputed presidential election in 2020.Belarus has refuted the EU’s assessment, but its leader Alexander Lukashenko has said he will not try to halt migrants from crossing into the bloc after its member states imposed sanctions on his administration following a disputed presidential election in 2020.
Back in July, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) urged the Polish government not to attempt to block asylum seekers, urging it instead to provide them with protection in accordance with its international obligations.Back in July, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) urged the Polish government not to attempt to block asylum seekers, urging it instead to provide them with protection in accordance with its international obligations.
“People fleeing war, violence and persecution need protection. Refusal to grant them entry at the border, without properly assessing their claims, is in dichotomy with the country’s obligations,” the UNHCR’s acting regional director for Europe, Anne-Marie Deutschlander, said. “People fleeing war, violence and persecution need protection. Refusal to grant them entry at the border, without properly assessing their claims, is in dichotomy with the country’s obligations,” the UNHCR’s acting regional director for Europe, Anne-Marie Deutschlander, said. 
On Wednesday, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) addressed the situation on the Belarusian border, requesting Latvia and Poland provide aid for dozens of migrants who are being forced to to wait at the EU border. Both states have stationed military officials on the border for the past 14 days to prevent the migrants from entering or making asylum claims, leaving them stranded.On Wednesday, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) addressed the situation on the Belarusian border, requesting Latvia and Poland provide aid for dozens of migrants who are being forced to to wait at the EU border. Both states have stationed military officials on the border for the past 14 days to prevent the migrants from entering or making asylum claims, leaving them stranded.
Like this story? Share it with a friend!Like this story? Share it with a friend!
Dear readers and commenters,
We have implemented a new engine for our comment section. We hope the transition goes smoothly for all of you. Unfortunately, the comments made before the change have been lost due to a technical problem. We are working on restoring them, and hoping to see you fill up the comment section with new ones. You should still be able to log in to comment using your social-media profiles, but if you signed up under an RT profile before, you are invited to create a new profile with the new commenting system.
Sorry for the inconvenience, and looking forward to your future comments,
RT Team.