Belarus accuses Poland of using toxic irritating chemicals against migrants on border

As migrant crisis along border of Poland and Belarus intensified, Polish security forces were accused of using 'toxic chemicals' on congregation of migrants. Dense smoke filled air around Bruzgi-Kuznica border crossing as Polish forces sprayed water canns and 'yellow liquid' that caused burns and suffocated asylum seekers attempting to forcefully cross into Poland, Belarusian state media BeITA reported. incident came after  European Union (EU) agreed to step up sanctions on Belarus on Monday.   

"Today we have witnessed how Polish security forces used special means containing toxic irritating chemicals against refugees, including women and children, on Belarusian-Polish border," Sputnik reported, quoting Deputy head of radiation, chemical and biological protection and ecology department of General Staff of Belarus Armed Forces Igor Malyk.

Videos of widespread disruptions were shared by Polish Ministry of Defence (MOD), which showed migrants camped near checkpoints aggressively pelting stones and bricks at Polish security forces. One of Polish soldiers was also hit with a stone on face, Polish MOD wrote on Twitter. "To prevent illegal border crossings, water canns were used against aggressive aliens,” security ncy wrote on Twitter, calling it a counter move to "attack by migrants". Polish MOD also accused Belarus of "using children" to escalate cross-border violence and added that Belarusian services also equipped migrants with "shock grenades." Additionally, Poland Security Forces spokesman Stanislaw Zaryn took to Twitter on Tuesday to share a video of Belarusian security officers appearing at scene of violence and termed it as "a prelude to a propaganda campaign against Poland." 

"It’s highly likely that Belarusian regime will accuse Poland of having committed an imaginary crime, presumably in relation to today’s events," Zaryn wrote in a subsequent tweet.

EU steps up sanctions on Belarus

European Union (EU) on Monday moved to step up existing sanctions on Belarus amid escalating tensions at Polish-Belarusian border, fearing intervention from Moscow. Aiming to curb migrant influx along eastern Polish borders, EU anunced that any airlines or officials involved in bringing migrants from ir home country to Belarus will be punished. "Today's decision reflects determination by European Union to stand up to instrumentalisation of migrants for political purposes. We are pushing back on this inhuman and illegal practice,'' EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement, as per DW.

For unversed, thousands of migrants from mostly Middle East and Asian countries have congregated at Belarusian border with Poland, camping in freezing temperatures dwindling at edge of humanitarian crisis without consistent food and water supply.

(Im: AP)