Poland Adds 2,000 Troops to Border Guard After Migrants Try to Enter by Force From Belarus

BY ERIN BRADY ON 11/8/21 AT 11:43 AM EST

Poland will be increasing the security around its border with Belarus after a series of incidents involving migrants.

This announcement directly responded to a large group of migrants attempting to cross the border from Belarus. A video published by Belarusian media showed people trying to enter Poland using uprooted trees and various thrown objects. However, the Associated Press reported that there is "no way to independently verify" the events in the video due to Belarus's barring of journalists.

Despite the lack of clarity surrounding the video, Poland is taking extra precautions against its eastern neighbor. The country is accusing Belarus of encouraging Middle Eastern migrants to cross the borders of its neighboring countries, particularly Poland. Lithuania and Latvia have also experienced similar migrant surges.

The Associated Press received a statement from Belarus State Border Guard Committee spokesman Anton Bychkovsky. It stated that the migrants are attempting to "exercise their right to apply for refugee status in the EU," further explaining that they "are not a security threat."

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