{"id":191544,"date":"2026-06-12T11:49:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T08:49:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/191544\/"},"modified":"2026-06-12T13:10:50","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T10:10:50","slug":"minsk-blames-eu-sanctions-for-irregular-migration-crisis-since-2021","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/191544\/","title":{"rendered":"Minsk blames EU sanctions for irregular migration crisis since 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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June 12, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Tensions over irregular migration on Belarus\u2019 borders with the European Union stem from \u201cunilateral sanctions\u201d and the suspension of migration cooperation and assistance programs between Minsk and Brussels, said Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister Ihar Siekreta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The diplomat also accused the EU of \u201cspeculating about an alleged \u2018hybrid threat\u2019\u201d from Belarus, referring to the irregular migration crisis at the Belarus-EU border, which has been ongoing since 2021, the Belarusian state-run media reports, citing him as saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, the official denied that the crisis is “artificial.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus has been forced to manage irregular migration largely on its own amid rising migrant flows and political and economic pressure from the EU, Siekreta claimed, noting that Minsk kept assisting foreigners in difficult circumstances whenever possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The flow of people desperate to cross into the EU surged in spring 2021 after Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka, angered by EU sanctions, had indicated that Minsk would not prevent asylum seekers from Africa and Asia from using Belarus as a route to the EU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the start of 2026, Belarus\u2019 western neighbors have thwarted at least 6,159 irregular crossings, which is a significant decline year on year, as 17,809 attempts were documented during the same period in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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