MINSK, 28 July (BelTA) - Poland pushed migrants back to Belarus regardless of the time of day and weather conditions, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants Felipe Gonzalez Morales told a press conference on 28 July, BelTA has learned.
“The migrants who crossed the border in unauthorized places were detained and forcibly removed from the territory of Poland. In practice, migrants who are caught crossing the border outside of official checkpoints are taken to border posts. If applicable, the border service issues an order to send them back in accordance with the provision of the law on foreigners,” Felipe Gonzalez Morales said.
He said that he found out quite the opposite from Polish border guards: “These [pushbacks] are carried out at the most convenient moment in order to avoid detection by Belarusian border guards. It is done regardless of the time of day and weather conditions. Sometimes pushbacks are carried out at night because of this.”
Pregnant women and children were often among such migrants.
