Lukashenko moves migrants to Russia ahead of elections
The migrants who had been staying in Belarus in the area near the Polish border have been transported towards Russia, as reported by Colonel Andrzej Stasiulewicz of the Border Guard. The officer suggested that Alexander Lukashenko may be preparing for the upcoming presidential elections.
"At some point, we noticed that migrants are being moved towards Russia from the border zone. Lukashenko might be interested in ensuring peace in the country ahead of the presidential elections," emphasized Stasiulewicz. However, he refrained from predicting what could happen to the people who have remained in the border area until now.
According to Border Guard data, in the first two weeks of January this year, 86 people attempted to cross the border, averaging about six attempts per day. This is significantly less than last year, when over 80 crossing attempts were recorded daily. Although statistics show that the number of crossings increased significantly last year (from 25,701 in 2023 to 29,616), a reverse trend has been observed since the last week of September 2024.
What is Lukashenko planning?
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Maciej Duszczyk noted that weather conditions have a significant impact on the decrease in crossing attempts. "However, we can suspect that as Lukashenko readies himself for the presidential elections, he wants to establish order in the country," Duszczyk remarked. The presidential elections in Belarus, in which Alexander Lukashenko will be the only candidate, are scheduled for January 26.
Additionally, the presence of migrants raises concerns in the villages near the Polish-Belarusian border. This situation may discourage people from voting," he noted.
"I'm not inside Lukashenko's mind, but it can be suspected that the lower numbers might be due to his attempt to maintain peace in the country," emphasized Duszczyk.
