Poland began work on the 5.5-meter (18 foot) high steel wall topped with barbed wire at a cost of around 1.6 billion zł (US$407m) aimed at blocking the passage of illegal migrants during the border crisis in the region artificially instigated by Belarus in the late summer of 2021. The barrier was completed on 30 June 2022.[3]
An electronic barrier 206km in length, mounting 3,000 cameras with night vision and movement sensors, was added to the fence between November 2022 and early summer 2023 at a cost of EUR 71.8 million.[4]
Criticism
Some media outlets, journalists and celebrities accused the Polish government of using border barrier to prevent entry of irregular asylum seekers.[5][6][7][8][9] During and after the intense phase of the border crisis, Poland did not close its border crossings with Belarus and did not stop granting asylum. In 2022, 1,029 applications were made in Terespol and 1,070 in Podlaskie.[10]
Since the fence was built illegal crossings have reduced to a trickle; however, between August 2021 and February 2023, 37 bodies were found on both sides of the border; people had died mainly from hypothermia or drowning.[10]
Ecologists criticised that populations of large mammals like lynx or European bisons are now separated.[11]
Attempted crossings
During 2022, Poland recorded 16,000 attempted crossings of the border. In 2023, the electronic sensors logged 22,000 in the first 8 months.[12]
History
On 15 October 2023, Poland held a referendum, with one of the four questions asked being: Do you support the removal of the barrier on the border between Poland and Belarus?
The referendum was not binding due to not reaching the required threshold of 50% of the electorate, with 40.91% turnout. Among those who took part, 96.04% responded No, while 3.96% supported its removal.[13]
See also
Belarus–European Union relations – diplomatic relations between the Republic of Belarus and the European UnionPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
Belarus–Poland relations – bilateral relations between Poland and BelarusPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
