Poland announces temporary asylum limits amid migration crisis

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk introduced plans Sunday to briefly restrict asylum from neighboring nations Belarus and Russia, sparking criticism from human rights teams.

Tusk said the plan responds to current efforts by Russia and Belarus to coordinate the “mass switch of individuals” throughout the Polish border, leading to safety and stability issues that might have an effect domestically and throughout the European Union. Tusk’s assertion shared through social media, states the safety of Poland’s borders and territory is a key precedence within the wake of the continuing migration disaster on the Japanese border.

In response to the introduced plans, a spokesperson from the Europe Fee instructed POLITICO on Monday that “we can not permit Russia and Belarus to make use of our personal values, together with the proper to asylum, in opposition to us and undermine our democracies.” Amnesty Worldwide Poland additionally responded to the announcement stating that “asylum is a human proper. Groundless suspension of this proper, even briefly, is unacceptable and in battle with, amongst others, the Geneva Conference and the Common Declaration of Human Rights.”

Amnesty Worldwide, and different particular person protestors on X, said that Article 56 of the Polish structure states that: “Foreigners shall have a proper of asylum within the Republic of Poland in accordance with rules specified by statute.” People fleeing persecution from one other nation might come to Poland searching for refugee standing, below worldwide agreements which Poland is a member.

Tusk is slated to announce additional particulars of his plan to handle the migrant disaster on Tuesday.