Frag Out! Magazine

A greater number of border vio- lations by refugees in the sum- mer of 2021 was a very noticeable symptom of the upcoming crisis. According to the official releases issued by the Border Guard, on July 20th a group of 49 persons was stopped, while between August 6th and August 9th, 2021, in the area protected by the Podlasie Unit of Border Guard (Belorussian border), the officers detained 349 persons in total. After detainment, based on court decisions, they were kept in guarded detainment centers. for foreigners. The situation in the vi- cinity of Usnarz Górny became a catalyst and a symbolic beginning of the whole crisis. In early August a group of Afghan refugees (ca. 50 persons) stayed close to the Po- lish Belorussian border and were pushed towards the Polish territory by the Belorussian border patrol of- ficers. They were, however, stopped by the Polish Border Guard suppor- ted by Police and the Army. Contra- ry to what had been happening be- fore, no formal arrest or detainment took place, the refugees were just stopped and the Polish uniformed services made it impossible for them to cross the state border. At the same time, those persons were unable to go back, deeper into the Belorussian territory - there they were being stopped by the Belorus- sians. The Belorussian involvement was broader than activities undertaken against a single group. According to the information provided by per- sons tied to the Belorussian oppo- sition, this has been a policy imple- mented on purpose, to facilitate the influx of people towards the EU bor- der, and to make it easier for those people to cross that border. T. Gi- chan, a Belorussian opposition jo- urnalist, disclosed information that the use of migrants has been a pre- meditated operation (dubbed Ope- ration Locks), planned in advance, and aimed at stirring an internal crisis in states supporting the Belo- russian opposition. Anna Maria Dy- ner, the analyst at the Polish Insti- tute of International Affairs (PISM), issued a similar assessment in her analysis published on August 20th, 2021, where she noted the follo- wing: "Keeping the migration crisis alive is aligned with the interest of the Belorussian authorities, for whom it is an element of retalia- tion against Poland, Lithuania and Latvia for their support provided for the repressed opposition, and for the EU-driven policy of sanctions. The situation will be used as an opportunity by Russia, who would be interested in taking over control over the channels via which the Afghans who run away to Russia, or Central Asia, are transported. This may provide Russia with an extra tool that can be used to inflict pressure onto the NATO Eastern Flank states, and to create internal political divisions there". One should note that the situation in Usnarz created a reaction among representatives of different politi- cal parties. Human rights activists and opposition MPs were first to arrive, requesting international pro- tection measures to be implemen- ted for the refugees, in line with co- nventions signed by Poland. Then, the leader of the right-wing "Marsz Niepodległości" [March of Indepen- dence] association appeared on site, declaring the following: "We are ready, as National guard, as vo- lunteers, to support the Polish uni- formed services", also requesting a wall to be built on the border. The situation in Usnarz was not the only attempt made at crossing the border. According to the data collected by the Border Guard, just in August 2021, 3,531 recorded at- ANALYSIS

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