Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has succeeded in manufacturing a refugee crisis on Poland’s border, largely because the Polish government is too incompetent and cynical to have prevented it. As tragic as the situation is, it could still redound to the benefit of the country’s opposition.
WARSAW – Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party knew well what to expect from Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko before he started funneling refugees from the Middle East to the Polish border. Belarusian authorities had already done it to Lithuania and Latvia. And in a clear sign of what was to come, Belarus terminated its readmission agreement with the EU in October. Poland had time to pursue preventive measures in the refugees’ countries of origin. It didn’t, and now thousands of desperate people are huddling in the cold on the border, facing options that are either bad or very bad.
WARSAW – Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party knew well what to expect from Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko before he started funneling refugees from the Middle East to the Polish border. Belarusian authorities had already done it to Lithuania and Latvia. And in a clear sign of what was to come, Belarus terminated its readmission agreement with the EU in October. Poland had time to pursue preventive measures in the refugees’ countries of origin. It didn’t, and now thousands of desperate people are huddling in the cold on the border, facing options that are either bad or very bad.