Poland Faces Allegations of Human Rights Violations at Belarus Border

Reports reveal systematic pushbacks and mistreatment of migrants as EU funding bolsters border security measures.

BRUSSELS — A report released by Oxfam and Polish NGO Egala details severe allegations against Polish border forces, claiming that they routinely force migrants back into Belarus under inhumane conditions.

According to the report, titled "Brutal Barriers," migrants have been subjected to physical violence, including beatings and attacks by security dogs, as well as being stripped of their clothing and abandoned in harsh weather conditions without access to food, shelter, or medical assistance.

The report features harrowing accounts, including that of a 22-year-old Syrian national who reported being left naked in freezing temperatures and another case of a pregnant woman who experienced bleeding and required urgent medical attention but was forcibly returned to Belarus.

The document suggests that some pregnant women may have suffered miscarriages due to the denial of necessary care.

Egala Advocacy Lead Aleksandra Gulińska characterized the pushback actions as "generalized and systemic," highlighting the ongoing presence of individuals stranded in forests after being forcibly returned by Polish authorities.

Despite these serious allegations, the European Commission allocated €52 million in December to enhance Poland’s border surveillance and infrastructure, responding to concerns about "hybrid threats" from Belarus and Russia.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the strategic importance of supporting border states like Poland in the context of these alleged threats.

Belarus has been accused of orchestrating a migration crisis aimed at destabilizing the European Union by facilitating the movement of migrants towards EU borders.

State-controlled travel agencies in Belarus have been reported to issue visas and arrange transportation for individuals intending to enter the EU, while Belarusian security forces reportedly guide them towards the Polish border, restricting their ability to retreat.

Following the election of Prime Minister Donald Tusk in 2023, there was initial hope among human rights organizations for a more accommodating migration policy; however, Tusk's government has intensified border control measures.

This included the reintroduction of exclusion zones and the passage of legislation that allows for a temporary suspension of the right to seek asylum.

Migration issues are likely to be pivotal as Poland approaches its presidential elections in May.

The EU has refrained from taking direct action against Poland regarding the pushbacks, although it has threatened legal proceedings in light of Poland’s noncompliance with the EU Migration Pact.

This pact mandates that member states either accept a quota of asylum seekers or contribute financially to support other countries absorbing migrants.

Recently, the Commission warned Warsaw of potential penalties if it continues to disregard these obligations.

In response to these developments, Prime Minister Tusk affirmed Poland’s position, declaring that the country will not adopt any migration pact stipulations that could result in the forced acceptance of migrants.

He noted that Poland already hosts many Ukrainian refugees and is facing significant migration pressures from Belarus.

Rights organizations have cautioned that Poland’s border policies, coupled with a perceived inaction from Brussels, could set a troubling precedent for the treatment of migrants across Europe.

Oxfam’s Ukraine advocacy lead criticized the EU for financially supporting what she termed a harmful pushback policy, urging a reconsideration of strategies that jeopardize human lives.