Poland punishes border guards who forced aggressive migrants to stop storming border

A scandal arose in Poland after it became known that the military involved in guarding the border with Belarus had been punished for using firearms during a confrontation with migrants.

This was reported by RMF24, writes “European Pravda”.

On Wednesday it became known that several military personnel involved in guarding the border with Belarus were removed from duty and charged with abuse of power and endangering life. The charges relate to events that occurred in late March and early April.

Information about the incident was first published by the Onet portal. According to the stated version of events, a group of migrants crossed the border and shots in the air did not stop them. Then the soldiers from the 1st Warsaw Mechanized Brigade began shooting at the ground. Approximately 43 shots hit the fence. The migrants eventually retreated beyond the border line.

However, after this action of the military, the Polish military police began to investigate. According to one of the military men with whom journalists spoke, three people from his unit were “taken away in handcuffs, like criminals.” Proceedings were started against two of them and they were subsequently released from custody. The media interlocutor was indignant that the immediate command made little effort to protect them in this situation.

After the publicity, Defense Minister Vladislav Kosinyak-Kamysh reacted.

"Detaining military personnel who open warning fire on migrants who attack them – this is unacceptable. The actions of the military police in relation to the detainees require explanation. Soldiers who guard the security of the state must be sure that they are legally protected,” – stated the minister.

As you know, recently the situation on the Belarusian-Polish border has worsened again, clashes between migrants and border guards occur regularly.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced a restriction of access to the border zone after how at the end of May, near the village of Dubichi, the Church border guard was wounded with a knife.

At the same time, in the communities bordering Belarus they criticize the plans in their current form, since this could significantly affect the income of local businesses , in particular those who make money from tourism in Belovezhskaya Pushcha.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Radoslaw Sikorski said that Warsaw will prepare an information campaign aimed at residents of countries from where migrants most often end up at the Belarusian-Polish border so that they do not believe the stories about the “easy path to the EU.”

Prepared by: Nina Petrovich