MINSK, 3 September (BelTA) – Poland violates its own commitments regarding the treatment of refugees. The Belarusian political analyst Aleksei Dzermant made the statement on the air of the radio station Alfa Radio as he commented on the Polish government's decision to introduce a 30-day state of emergency along the Belarusian border, BelTA learned from sb.by.
The analyst remarked the introduction of the state of emergency is a way to prevent mass media from covering what is going on, on the one hand, and an actual permission to do anything, on the other hand. Aleksei Dzermant added that violence can be used without oversight under the guise of the state of emergency.
Aleksei Dzermant said: “You have to understand why it is being done. Not only in order to stop the flow of refugees. An interesting movement among Polish mass media, opposition parties, and politicians is starting. They are trying to get to the border, clarify the situation, and make some reports. It is very disadvantageous for Polish authorities. We see that a wave has surged in mass media, including European ones. Government officials come to see what is going on at the border. Poland violates its own commitments regarding the treatment of refugees after all. They may be able to suspend mass media coverage but it is unlikely they will stop the flow of migrants.”
Aleksei Dzermant went on saying that a number of people, who had travelled via a northern route from Poland to Lithuania, have been seen in Germany and France. In his opinion, there is a mechanism in place for transporting these people.
“You have to understand that trafficking people across the border is a very serious business. It costs $10,000 to smuggle a person from Iraq to Germany. This is why it is necessary to keep in mind that refugees expect that there are people inside the country, who do it professionally, including officers of law enforcement bodies,” he said.
Aleksei Dzermant described Lithuania as a rather corrupt state. In his words, Lithuanian law enforcement officers might earn money on the side by smuggling people.
The birth of a child in a refugee family staying in Lithuania was also mentioned during the broadcast. “Lithuanian citizenship is not granted to children born in Lithuanian territory. In any case they cannot just expel the child. Children, underage, and women represent a vulnerable category. But we can expect anything judging by how they don't care about any laws,” the political analyst concluded.
