The Polish government has decided to extend the ban on accepting asylum applications at the border with Belarus for an additional 60 days, effective from May 21.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing foreign media outlets, that the lower house of the Polish parliament, the Sejm, officially approved the measure on May 14.
The restriction was initially introduced at the end of March 2024, when the Polish government suspended the right to apply for asylum at the Belarusian border for a 60-day period. Since then, the measure has been extended multiple times for similar durations. While the authorities have codified this mechanism into law, it has faced significant criticism from human rights activists and left-wing political factions within Poland, who argue the policy undermines international legal obligations regarding refugee rights.
The border situation between Poland and Belarus has remained a focal point of regional tension since 2021, when a migration crisis erupted. Warsaw and the European Union have frequently accused the Belarusian administration of orchestrating the flow of migrants from the Middle East and Africa as a form of "hybrid warfare" intended to destabilize the region. In response, Poland has significantly bolstered its border defenses, including the construction of a physical barrier and the deployment of additional security personnel to prevent illegal crossings.
