On the 9th of August 2020, the reelection of Alexander Lukashenko as President of Belarus sparked a massive movement of outrage and protests across the country. Many Belarusians decided to emigrate or simply flee to neighbouring Poland in hope of a better future. 

As reported by TVP World, the spokesman for the Minister-Special Services Coordinator told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) that Poland “constantly supports and protects people fleeing Belarus from repression” and that “over 23,000 Belarusians have sought refuge in Poland (…) Since the beginning of the political crisis in Belarus, Poland has been constantly supporting and protecting people fleeing this country from political persecution.”

As a matter of fact, Belarusian citizens have been subjected to brutal repression since the outbreak of protests following last year’s rigged presidential elections. Therefore numerous Belarusians now seek refuge in the EU and mostly in Poland.

Since 2014, it is believed that between 1 and 2 million Ukrainians immigrated to Poland following the Russian aggression on the Donbas region as well as the annexation of the Crimean peninsula. 

Belarus is often referred to as Europe’s last dictatorship. Alexander Lukashenko has been the head of state of this country for almost three decades by winning every presidential election since 1994. The August 2020 presidential elections officially credited Lukashenko with over 80% of the votes. The repression by the dictator’s regime in Belarus in the form of harassment, arrests and even torture intensified since then. 

Human rights organisations estimate that there are nearly a thousand prisoners of conscience in Belarus.

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen

Photo: Unsplash