Human Rights Watch has recently expressed serious concerns regarding the treatment of migrants along the Poland-Belarus border, alleging that Polish border guards have employed unlawful and violent measures to push migrants back into Belarus. These actions are said to occur without allowing migrants access to the necessary asylum procedures, thereby breaching international and European human rights laws. Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported instances where Polish law enforcement agents not only forced migrants back across the border but also engaged in abuse and the confiscation of their belongings.
The legal framework that Poland is accused of contravening includes Article 18 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union which ensures the right to asylum, as well as the principle of non-refoulement under Article 33 of the 1951 Refugee Convention. These violations have prompted HRW to urge the Polish government to cease these pushbacks and to investigate all claims of border abuses with urgency.
Amidst these allegations, the geopolitical tension in the region persists, with Polish defense officials unveiling the Shield East project earlier this year to fortify NATO’s eastern borders. Following an incident where a border official was attacked, Poland has moved to bolster its border security by passing legislation authorizing the use of firearms against migrants—an action which has been met with considerable opposition, including from the Council of Europe, which argues that these practices infringe upon the European Convention on Human Rights.
With the border shared between Poland and Belarus becoming a flashpoint for a growing migration crisis since 2021, the Polish government’s approach continues to draw international attention and criticism, underlining the significant challenges faced in balancing national security with the obligations towards international asylum and human rights standards.