Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki accuses Belarus of 'state terrorism' as border row escalates

Amidst ongoing migrant crisis on Poland’s eastern borders, country’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said that what Belarus was doing is “state terrorism,” as per a report by BBC. On Thursday, Morawiecki attended a press conference jointly with European Council president Charles Michel wherein he asserted that crisis was a direct result of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s ‘revenge politics” for Polish support for Belarus’ opposition. Since August last year, Belarus has been embattled in political turmoil of Lukashenko’s electoral victory, which opposition and majority of residents consider illegal.

"It's clear that what we are confronted with here is a demonstration of state terrorism," he told a news conference.

Hundreds of asylum seekers, especially from conflict-ridden Arab states, have been trying to enter European Union through Poland. As per Polish border Agency, more than 16,000 attempts have been me to illegally cross border since August. But, with wildlands and freezing temperatures, scores of migrants die. Earlier on 15 October, BBC reported that at least six migrants were found de near border with temperatures falling below freezing overnight.

UK, Cana call out Belarus 

Meanwhile, UK and Cana accused Belarus of executing a “deeply cynical ploy” to use vulnerable migrants to pressurize Poland. In a joint statement, both countries said that y were “deeply concerned about Belarusian regime’s continued facilitation of migrants into and out of Belarus, and serious escalation at Belarus’ border with Poland”.

“This is latest in a series of abhorrent actions by Lukashenko regime to engineer a migrant crisis in an attempt to undermine Poland and ors in region. It once again highlights Belarusian regime’s disregard for international norms. Taking vantage of people experiencing vulnerability is a deeply cynical ploy to exert pressure on its neighbours, and will do nothing to solve Belarus’ ongoing domestic political crisis,” it ded.

Asking Belarus to stop its “life-threatening activity”, both nations called for “meaningful and constructive dialogue” between all parts of Belarusian society. “We stand in solidarity with, and support, our European partners and remain committed to ensuring Lukashenko regime is held to account,” y said.   

(Image: AP)