The European Union has authorized Poland to stop accepting asylum applications from refugees at the border with Russia and Belarus due to hybrid threats from Russia.

The European Commission announced that this new measure in an attempt to stop illegal migration through Russia and Belarus, Poland approves temporarily and under strict control, Polish media reports.

According to the EC announcement, the suspension of asylum applications is an urgent measure required by the emergency situation and increased attempts to cross the border illegally.

The increasing use of force in response to increasingly aggressive attempts by migrants to cross the 5,5m high metal fence on the border with Belarus was condemned by human rights NGOs today.

"Poland, which takes over the presidency of the EU, should serve as an example of respect, protect the right to seek asylum at its borders and guarantee humane treatment of refugees," activist Lidija Gal told the Polish public TV service.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk noted at the beginning of December that today there are fewer and fewer opponents of effective border protection against illegal migration and abuse of refugees and migrants targeted by the authorities of Russia and Belarus as part of the hybrid war against the EU and Poland.

"Not everyone is enthusiastic about the Polish initiative to temporarily not accept asylum requests, and this was confirmed at today's meeting. Poland will lead a harsh national policy there. "Effective protection of the border against illegal migration, which is misused as a tool by Belarus and Russia, is a common good," Tusk said earlier in a meeting with European Parliament President Roberta Mezzola and heads of all parliamentary factions. in EP.

Earlier, to criticism from non-governmental organizations that Poland, by not accepting asylum requests, was violating international law and conventions, Foreign Minister Radosław Szykorski responded that Polish authorities would continue to accept requests from mothers with small children, but not from men. who come armed with clubs and knives.