Polish-Belarusian Border To Be Completely Closed, Just Like Border With Ukraine?

The expert believes such an option is possible.

Last week Poland closed a major border crossing with Belarus, Bobrowniki, which has angered the Belarusian authorities. At the same time, the official reason for this decision has not been made public.

The Polish media report a variety of versions: from that it was a reaction to the harsh sentence upon Andrzej Poczobut, journalist and member of the Union of Poles in Belarus (8 years in jail).

Martin Wojciechowski, Charge d'Affaires a.i. of Poland in Belarus, was summoned to the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, where they strongly protested. Spokesman for the State Border Committee Anton Bychkouski said that the closure of the Bobrowniki border crossing point by Poland may lead to traffic collapse at other border crossings, which will affect the carriers of goods and residents of the two countries.

Against this background, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that his country does not rule out the closure of other border crossings on the border with Belarus.

Pavel Matsukevich, a senior researcher of the Center for New Ideas and author of the Pulse of Lenin-19 telegram channel, said in a commentary to UDF that he was inclined to believe that the closure of the border crossing is the result of difficult Belarusian-Polish relations, which have been further complicated by the trial against Andrzej Poczobut.

"The reaction of the Polish side is asymmetric: this measure doesn't strike a blow to the regime and those directly involved in the trial and repression against Poczobut. Closing the border crossing will affect the opportunities of people and businesses on both sides of the border interested in cross-border travel," said Matsukevich.

Polish Prime Minister said that his country may close other border crossings with Belarus. Is such an option allowed by the expert?

"It is possible because there is already an example of complete closing of the border and actually complete cessation of mutual trade - in the south with Ukraine," said Matsukevich.