{"id":188070,"date":"2026-05-19T12:12:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T09:12:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/188070\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T12:12:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T09:12:26","slug":"poland-braces-for-rise-in-irregular-migration-from-belarus-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/188070\/","title":{"rendered":"Poland braces for rise in irregular migration from Belarus this summer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

May 19, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Poland\u2019s interior ministry will seek a 90-day extension of the no-go zone along the Belarusian border as Warsaw braces for a possible rise in irregular migration this summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A local government website has published a memo drafted by the ministry to justify the extension. The document notes that irregular migration declined during the winter because of cold weather and snowfall, but could increase significantly in the summer months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The buffer zone was first introduced in June 2024 and has since been extended several times. It currently covers an area of approximately 78 kilometers along the border under the jurisdiction of the Micha\u0142owo, Narewka, Bia\u0142owie\u017ca, Dubicze Cerkiewne and Czeremcha border posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Polish authorities, the entry restrictions are intended to protect police officers, border guards and military personnel, while also limiting the activities of smuggling groups involved in irregular crossings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pozirk\u2019s<\/em> analysis found that the average migration pressure index at the EU-Belarus border rose from 73.17 attempts per day in April to 84.56 in May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania reported 4,386 irregular crossing attempts this year, down from 11,969 during the same period last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The flow of migrants seeking to enter the EU surged in spring 2021 after Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka, angered by EU sanctions, indicated that Minsk would no longer prevent asylum seekers from Africa and Asia from using Belarus as a transit route into the bloc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In June 2021, the Belarusian government suspended a readmission agreement with the EU in response to sanctions imposed after the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Latvia, Lithuania and Poland describe the migration crisis as a \u201chybrid attack\u201d orchestrated by Minsk and Moscow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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