Belarus

[urbanoid]

4 hours ago, bojan said:

Why would Belarus pay for it? It was auntie Merkel that invited them...

It's not a matter of why, it's a matter of not having The Donald. When you have The Donald others pay for your wall. Or at least are supposed to pay.

[Simon Tan]

Just send them to Britain marked as lorry drivers.

[Stuart Galbraith]

Can't have that, the French will cry. 

[Stuart Galbraith]

 

[TrustMe]

I doubt they were blank rounds. More likely, that Poland lied to defuse the situation.

Edited October 8, 2021 by TrustMe

[BansheeOne]

Quote

Belarus expels French ambassador over diplomatic row

4h ago

France's ambassador to Belarus has left the country, reportedly following Minsk's order. The move comes after his meeting with a banned civil society group and a diplomatic snub to President Alexander Lukashenko.

France's Ambassador to Belarus Nicolas de Lacoste left Minsk after Belarusian authorities ordered his exit on Sunday.

Lacoste had avoided presenting his credentials to President Aleksander Lukashenko, 67, and instead presented them to the regime's foreign minister, Vladimir Makei, an act Lukashenko viewed as a snub. 

The French embassy in Minsk also indicated on its website that Lacoste had met last Wednesday with representatives of the banned NGO Govorii Pravdu (Tell The Truth), including the group's co-chair, Andrey Dmitriev, who had been a presidential candidate in last year's contested election.

"He said goodbye to the staff of the embassy and recorded a video message to the Belarusian people, which will appear tomorrow morning on the embassy's website," the French embassy's spokesperson told AFP.

Belarusian media reported that Minsk has also recalled its ambassador to Paris, Igor Fesenko.

Departure due to a 'unilateral decision'

On Monday, France's foreign minister said that Lacoste's departure was due to the "unilateral decision" of Belarusian authorities. Meanwhile, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said that the emergency departure of the French ambassador from the coontry was connected with his unwillingness to present his credentials to Lukashenko. 

"The head of the French diplomatic mission did not express readiness to complete the procedure for assuming office as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Belarus, which is stipulated by international law and generally recognized practice,'' said Anatoly Glaz, press secretary of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry.

'Europe's last dictator' tries to hold on to power

France and other EU countries have not recognized Lukashenko as the winner of the contested presidential election last August. His self-declared victory kicked off a wave of historic protests against his rule and his pursuit of a sixth term in office.

[...] 

https://m.dw.com/en/belarus-expels-french-ambassador-over-diplomatic-row/a-59533141

[Stuart Galbraith]

 

[BansheeOne]

Quote

Russia, Belarus agree to integrate gas, financial markets

November 4, 2021

MOSCOW (AP) — The presidents of Russia and Belarus signed an array of measures Thursday to deepen the integration of the two countries but stop short of a full merger.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko approved the integration measures during a meeting in Minsk of the bilateral Supreme State Council for the union state; Putin participated by video link from Russia-annexed Crimea.

The measures approved at the council meeting were worked out by the two longtime leaders in September and call for the creation of a single gas market and common financial markets.

Russia and Belarus agreed in 1999 to closer political, economic and military ties, but the partnership has often been strained. Lukashenko has at times scolded Moscow for trying to force him to relinquish control of prized economic assets and eventually abandon his country’s independence.

However, Lukashenko relies on Russia for support as Belarus becomes increasingly isolated because of its harsh crackdown on opposition, independent news media and human rights groups in the wake of his reelection and massive demonstrations last year.

https://apnews.com/article/business-russia-vladimir-putin-moscow-belarus-93a79aff811d535bc9e9d5d0a3dc5969

[Roman Alymov]

On 10/28/2021 at 6:49 PM, Stuart Galbraith said:

 

Again, Stuart, your ignorance to barbaric languages makes you uncritical to what you post.
English text – “The nature of the blast hasn't been specified so far.” 
Right below it, original Polish text – “Explosion of gas in the vechicle checkpoint building on Polish...”
 

[Stuart Galbraith]

Thats why you are here Roman, to speak truth and elucidate light.

[glenn239]

On 11/7/2021 at 2:37 AM, Stuart Galbraith said:

Thats why you are here Roman, to speak truth and elucidate light.

He is a refreshing check on your constant and reckless jingoism.

[Stuart Galbraith]

2 hours ago, glenn239 said:

He is a refreshing check on your constant and reckless jingoism.

Siebel Ferry!

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

 

[BansheeOne]

Quote

Poland says Belarus 'fully' controls migrants after attempted breach

2h ago

A group of migrants has tried to forcibly enter Poland from Belarus, according to Poland's Interior Ministry. Warsaw has accused Minsk of preparing a "provocation."

Migrants were putting up tents at the Polish border after attempting to breach the barrier separting the two nations earlier on Monday, according to Belarusian sources. The group, estimated at between two and three thousand people and reported to consist mostly of Iraqi Kurds, had approached the border from Belarus.

Poland accused Belarus of "fully" controlling migrant groups who were attempting to enter Polish territory. Warsaw said they were used for hybrid attacks against the EU country.

"By creating an artificial migration route and cynically exploiting migrants, [Belarus strongman Alexandar Lukashenko] is trying to destabilize Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, and to force the European Union to lift the sanctions imposed on the Minsk regime," the Polish government said.

What happened today?

Footage from the scene seemed to show Belarusian troops accompanying the migrants on the Belarusian side of the border. It was not immediately possible to verify the videos, however, as Polish authorities are keeping reporters out of the area due to a state of emergency, while journalists who are not aligned with the government have limited options to operate in Belarus.

Videos published by the Polish Defense Ministry also showed people attacking the razor wire with shovels and wire cutters as Polish troops sprayed gas canisters over the fence.

Independent Belarus agency reported that migrants managed to destroy the section of the border barrier, but that the Polish security forces managed to close the breach by forming a police line.

[...] 

What is Belarus' stance?

Belarusian officials blamed the Polish side for escalating the clashes, saying that they used "tear gas against people asking for protection."

"In response … some of the refugees moved to more decisive action and started breaking down the Polish barrier," they told the country's state agency Belta.

Previously, the authorities in Belarus said they were taking "necessary measures to ensure the continuous functioning of international transport channels." Belarus officials also blamed Poland for the migrants' foray.

"This desperate move is due to the indifference and inhumane attitude of the Polish authorities," they said.

What do Polish officials say?

Poland accused the Belarusian government of planning a "major provocation" by getting migrants to cross the Polish border on Monday.

"Belarus wants to cause a major incident, preferably with shots fired and casualties," Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr Wawrzyk told Polish public radio.

His statement came after the Polish Defense Ministry published a video of the migrant group nearing the border town of Kuznica.

Stanislaw Zaryn, a spokesman for the ministry coordinating Poland's intelligence agencies, said the group is preparing to enter Poland "en masse."

He also claimed the migrants were "under a strict control of Belarusian armed units who decide which way the group can or can't go."

"It's yet another example of the [Belarus] regime's hostile activity targeted against Poland," he added.

[...] 

Lithuania, another EU and NATO member bordering Belarus, also said it was moving soldiers to its border regions as migrants were gathering on the Belarusian side. Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite said Vilnius will consider declaring a state of emergency in the region on Monday.

[...] 

https://m.dw.com/en/poland-says-belarus-fully-controls-migrants-after-attempted-breach/a-59753059

[Stuart Galbraith]

According to one source, Poland is calling up reservists.

[Simon Tan]

Why is travel to European paradise a provocation?

[ex2cav]

No one in the EU has looked at what Mexico allows to come north and storm the US southern border. I have no sympathy for them. Tell the Baltic states to build a wall, or welcome the diversity that is coming from the east. 

In all seriousness, how are these migrants getting to Belarus? I don't believe the Belas are flying them in just to walk them across the border. I'll ask the same question I ask about the fiasco that is the US southern border; Who is paying for these migrants to walk, fly, drive, or bus ride in? I don't believe the bulk are paying their own way. Who is paying the fare?

 

[urbanoid]

Yes, they are flying them in just to walk them across the border. Iraq has just closed 2 Belarusian consulates in the country, they were giving tourists visas to everyone who wanted them, promising they can go to Germany via Poland. They are paying thousands of dollars for those promises.

[Stuart Galbraith]

2 hours ago, ex2cav said:

No one in the EU has looked at what Mexico allows to come north and storm the US southern border. I have no sympathy for them. Tell the Baltic states to build a wall, or welcome the diversity that is coming from the east. 

In all seriousness, how are these migrants getting to Belarus? I don't believe the Belas are flying them in just to walk them across the border. I'll ask the same question I ask about the fiasco that is the US southern border; Who is paying for these migrants to walk, fly, drive, or bus ride in? I don't believe the bulk are paying their own way. Who is paying the fare?

 

Yes, but you dont have the minions of Putin knocking your border wall down. There are allegations by the Poles (and ive no reason to doubt them) the Belarusians are knocking down the fence. This is what weaponizing migrants is about. You build a more solid wall, they would just stick a bangalore torpedo under it.

As for where they are coming from...

https://knpr.org/npr/2021-11/migrants-aided-belarus-try-push-across-polish-border

Poland's deputy foreign minister, Pawel Jablonski held talks with Iraqi charge d'affaires Hussein al-Safi on ways of ending the migration crisis and thanked Iraq for having Belarus close its consulates in Baghdad and Irbil that were giving out tourist visas to migrants.

 

Why are they doing this? Well it could be as simple as a distraction, it could be more calculated as a means to pressure the EU into ending sanctions. Or if you are alarmist, and many people on twitter are, they figure it may be an attempt to make Poland respond, so Russia has a clear case for putting in troops permanently, perhaps even returning Belarus to a Union with Russia. Gleiwitz 2? Well I guess we shall see.

8 minutes ago, urbanoid said:

Yes, they are flying them in just to walk them across the border. Iraq has just closed 2 Belarusian consulates in the country, they were giving tourists visas to everyone who wanted them, promising they can go to Germany via Poland. They are paying thousands of dollars for those promises.

You beat me to it.

 

[BansheeOne]

Yup, there are unconfirmed reports that Belarus intends to increase flights from Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Dubai to Minsk to 40 a week in the coming days, and create additional landing slots at five more airports, including Grodno near the Polish border. This is nothing like the 2015/16 crisis (except maybe for the part where Hungary bussed 10,000 refugees to the Austrian border); while traffickers encouraged streams by exaggerating images of the good life and welcoming culture in Germany then, there wasn't any third-party government actively facilitating movement.

Erdogan tried that on the Greek border a few years later of course, which is likely where Lukashenko got the idea. Some are saying it's ultimately Putin pulling the strings, but at any rate it's clearly a case of hybrid warfare in reply to EU sanctions over assorted dictatorial behavior. 

[Simon Tan]

When you see unconfirmed reports, you should read propaganda garbage as that is all that has been pushed by IC and the propaganda lapdogs. Just sayin. 

[Stuart Galbraith]

There have been continuing claims about shots being fired at the border, supposedly by Belarus, to encourage more border migrations. Ive seen videos that have not been authenticated, so Ill leave others to make their own judgement on their authenticity.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1518559/eu-news-live-Belarus-border-poland-migrant-row-shots-fired-sanctions-Von-Der-Leyen-latest

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/poland-fears-belarus-plans-armed-border-escalation

Government spokesman Piotr Muller said up to 4,000 migrants had gathered near Poland's eastern border and told reporters that at some point they expected "an escalation... which will be of an armed nature".

Local TV said many of the migrants gathering near Kuznica were accompanied by armed individuals with dogs.

The head of Poland's national security department, Stanislaw Zaryn, said the migrants were under the control of Belarusian armed units. "Belarus wants to cause a major incident, preferably with shots fired and casualties," deputy foreign minister Piotr Wawrzyk said earlier.

Overnight temperatures at the border have slumped below zero and several migrants have already died. Activists say the migrants - many of them young men but also women and children - are being used as pawns in a political game between Belarus and its neighbours.

The EU alleges Belarus' authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko is provoking the influx in retaliation against the bloc's sanctions.

It imposed the measures after Mr Lukashenko's crackdown on mass protests following last year's widely discredited presidential election, and the arrest of a dissident journalist on board a Ryanair flight that was forced to land in Minsk.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would look at extending sanctions to include "third-country airlines" involved in flying migrants to Belarus.

 

Time to fit out the inner refuge. Again.

 

Edited November 9, 2021 by Stuart Galbraith

[Stuart Galbraith]

 

[futon]

6 hours ago, ex2cav said:

No one in the EU has looked at what Mexico allows to come north and storm the US southern border. I have no sympathy for them. Tell the Baltic states to build a wall, or welcome the diversity that is coming from the east. 

...

 

Lithuania took your advice expediently.