Russian MFA in favor of international investigation into Poland's abuse of refugees

MOSCOW, – The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs shares Minsk's determination to get an international investigation launched into the mistreatment of refugees by Poland, official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova told a briefing answering a question of a BelTA journalist in Moscow on 30 December, BelTA has learned.

“We really share Minsk's determination to have an international investigation launched into the use of pesticides by the Polish security forces on the border on 16 November, as a result of which 132 refugees, including 23 children received chemical burns and lung problems. And we would like our Western partners to show the documents allowing this (they are people acting in the right way, aren't they)? The documents of the EU, NATO, for example? Maybe some additional interpretations? It is common for them to adopt certain interpretations of international agreements at the national level or in regional associations. Maybe they have some secret clauses allowing such things?” Maria Zakharova asked.

"If such things are prohibited, then, accordingly, they need to be condemned and those responsible should be brought to account. Yet, the EU and other international organizations are loudly keeping silent again. They pretend that nothing extraordinary has happened," Maria Zakharova emphasized.

She stated that Poland used special equipment, dogs, tear gas, and water cannons against refugees. Cases of ill-treatment of migrants by Polish border guards and the military have been documented both by the UN structures, the Council of Europe, and by the EU agency Frontex.

The testimony of the Polish soldier Emil Czeczko, who asked for asylum in Belarus, also needs further investigation. "The accusations voiced by the Polish soldier that you mentioned about the involvement of the Polish military in the murder of refugees are very serious, and they certainly require a thorough international investigation," Maria Zakharova emphasized.