On Sunday, August 3rd, Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński announced that checks at Poland’s borders with Germany and Lithuania will be extended, in an effort to block the migration route that has now moved through Belarus and Russia into Lithuania and Latvia.
Poland initially reinstated border checks last month in response to similar actions by Germany. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has since stated that the restrictions will only be lifted if Berlin takes corresponding steps.
Over the four weeks since the border control began, 185 foreign nationals have been refused entry due to missing valid travel documents, stated Polish Brigadier General Robert Bagan of the Border Guard at a press conference.
When asked about Germany’s position, a spokesperson for the Interior Ministry pointed to earlier remarks by Christian Democrat Minister Alexander Dobrindt, who described Poland’s decision as “an important step in the joint fight against illegal migration.”
Kierwiński noted that the regulation on the extension of border control was issued on Friday, August 1st, and the European Commission has been notified. The temporary border checks are scheduled to stay in effect until 4 October.
