Poland will temporarily suspend the right to asylum for citizens from Russia and Belarus

Donald Tusk / Photo EPA-EFE/PAWEL SUPERNAK

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said today that he plans to temporarily suspend the right to asylum as part of a new migrant policy, pointing to alleged abuses by eastern neighbors Belarus and Russia.

Tusk said "the state must regain 100 percent control over entry and exit from Poland" and that a territorial suspension of the right to asylum would be part of a strategy to be presented at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Polish news agency PAP reported.

He gave no details, but said at the convention of his Civic Coalition that he would "reduce illegal migration to Poland to a minimum".

Poland has been grappling with migration pressures on its border with Belarus since 2021.

Successive Polish governments have accused Belarus and Russia of bringing migrants there from the Middle East and Africa to destabilize the West.

Tusk pointed to the alleged abuse of the right to asylum "by (Belarusian President Alexander) Lukashenko, by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, by smugglers, people smugglers, people smugglers. The way in which this right of asylum is used is completely contrary to the idea of ​​the right of asylum," he said.

Tusk said he will seek recognition of the decision on the right to asylum from the European Union, PAP reported.

Tusk's comments come after Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said on Thursday that Poland would tighten visa regulations, stepping up vetting of applicants.

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