Portal Politico He intercepted records of telephone calls and papers that indicate since spring 2021 Belarusian government utilized migrants as a weapon to destabilising the European Union under "revenge" for Western sanctions.
– The Minister gave clear instructions – said on the revealed video Mikhail Bedunkevich, a high-ranking authoritative of the local Ministry of Interior and Administration. "We should not worry about migrants in transit to Europe," added the politician.
In the further part of the discussion, he assured that "everything would be fine" due to the fact that migrants would not settle in Belarus. He stressed that do not halt any peopleWho will want to cross the border.
Lukashenko's secret plan. This is how they promoted “trips to Belarus”
The papers intercepted by Politico besides uncover how the Belarusian authorities help migrants attempts to enter the country and enter the European Union illegally.
In countries like e.g. Iraq There have been announcements promoting trips to Belarus. erstwhile they responded to the offer, travel agencies petitioned the Belarusian Ministry of abroad Affairs to request short-stay visas.
SEE: “Better Poland”: Migrants on Polish streets. A raid or a scare?
Often these were group visas, which active both business and tourist trips. Migrants were besides offered trips to state enterprises, Huntingvisits to spa centresand even exits to the circus.
However, many migrants said that they were unofficially promised easy access to the EU.
Travel package cost from six to $15,000. Travelers flew to Belarus airlines specified as Fly Baghdad, Iraq Airways and Belarusian state Belavia. They were later accommodated in government hotels.
Migrants started pushing the EU border. They had an escort from the Belarusian guards
Belarus Plan It shortly began to bear fruit. In the intercepted telephone conversation, Dmitri Korabau deputy head of Oskartour, a private tourist company that participated in this activity, said that people had come to Minsk "without bags‘.
– Planes flying back to their countries are half empty – he said amused. In another conversation, he admitted that migrants flee Belarus leaving all their documents, which was to prevent their identification.
SEE: Another incidental on the border with Belarus. Migrants damaged an ambulance.
As the number of migrants increased rapidly, Belarusian border guards began helping migrants push the border directly.
– At first there was no structure – they simply charged forward in an unorganized way – told the portal another from the Belarusian borderers – Alaksandr.
As he reported, the strategy was later worked out and the actions of migrants became more "consumptionary". A fewer escorts in uniform. tiny groups from 5 to 15 people. Everybody started bringing ladders and metallic shearsand wear advanced quality winter clothes – informed.
If the Polish, Lithuanian or Latvian authorities were detected, migrants withdrew into the forest where They were waiting for further instructions.
