Main image: PAP/Paweł Supernak
The Polish government has decided to establish a buffer zone on the border with Belarus in response to attempts by migrants to illegally enter the country.
This announcement was made by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as reported by PAP.
The decision was revealed after a government meeting held in Białystok, a city located about 50 kilometers from the Belarusian border.
"We have adopted a resolution, the practical consequence of which is a decree by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration to create a buffer zone on the border with Belarus," Tusk stated.
According to Tusk, the aim of this measure is to complicate illegal entry into Poland from Belarus and to ensure good conditions for border guards and soldiers.
"The zone will cover several dozen kilometers, extending 200 meters inward. In some nature reserves, the zone will extend up to two kilometers, but these are not long stretches. This is due to the presence of smugglers who mainly operate in forest areas, 1-2 kilometers from the border. In these places, the zone will be wider," he explained.
He emphasized that the Polish authorities must use all methods to prevent migrants, sent by the authorities of Russia and Belarus, from illegally crossing the border.
"We will not back down on this," Tusk stressed.