Migrants' Journey To Belarus: Routes And Methods Revealed

The EU has accused Belarus of luring migrants to Minsk with the false promise of easy entry to the EU. Migrants are mostly arriving in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, by air, and then travelling overland to the borders of EU states including Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. They are using a combination of taxis, buses, or cars provided by human smugglers to reach the border. The price of the whole journey can reach up to about $14,000.

Migrants fly to Minsk, Belarus

Migrants are flying to Minsk, Belarus, from several countries in the Middle East, including Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, and elsewhere. The majority of migrants are from Iraq, with smaller numbers from Afghanistan, Syria, Congo, and Cameroon.

The migrants are arriving in Minsk via direct flights to the city's airport. Airlines offering these direct flights include Belavia (the Belarusian state carrier), Iraqi Airways, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Fly Baghdad. Migrants are also arriving in Minsk via indirect flights, for example, first flying to Istanbul, Turkey, and then on to Minsk.

The cost of these flights varies, but overall, the journey from the Middle East to Minsk can cost migrants anywhere between $10,000 to $15,000. This cost often includes visas, flights, and being smuggled overland once in Europe.

Once in Minsk, migrants are then travelling overland to the borders of EU states, including Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. This overland travel is often facilitated by human smugglers, who provide taxis, buses, or cars to transport migrants to the border.

They travel to the border with Poland, Lithuania or Latvia

Once migrants have arrived in Belarus, they travel to the border with Poland, Lithuania, or Latvia. They are often transported by taxi, bus, or car provided by human smugglers. The journey can cost up to $14,000, with visas, flights, and overland smuggling included.

Migrants are often accommodated in three- or four-star hotels in Minsk, such as Planeta, Sputnik, Minsk Hotel, Crown Plaza Minsk, and Marriott Hotel, before they depart for the border. They usually spend several days in the capital before they are directed to the border with EU member states.

The journey to the border typically takes place at night, and migrants are given directions to walk through the forest to the border, which is only about 20 minutes away from Belarus, according to smugglers. They are promised that a car will meet them on the other side, but for most, the journey ends at a detention centre in Lithuania.

Migrants have reported being guided by Belarusian soldiers who cut through border fencing at night to allow them to cross into Poland. Belarusian media have also published videos showing border guards from the country guiding migrants towards a forest alongside Poland's border.

In previous months, small groups of asylum seekers tried to sneak into Lithuania, Poland, and Latvia at night, using forest paths away from populated areas. More recently, larger groups have gathered openly at the Polish border, and some have used shovels and wire cutters to break through the razor-wire fence.

They cross the border by foot or car

Migrants cross the border from Belarus to Poland, Lithuania, or Latvia by foot or car. They are often aided by human smugglers, who drive them to the border. Once there, they cross the border by foot, sometimes with the help of Belarusian soldiers who cut through the border fencing at night to allow them to cross.

The journey from Belarus to Poland, Lithuania, or Latvia can be done by taxi, bus, or car. It is a journey fraught with dangers, and even death. Those who make the journey often pay large sums of money to smugglers, who organise their travel. The price of the whole journey can reach up to about $14,000. The journey typically begins in Iraq, with the main points of departure being three towns in the Kurdish region: Irbil, Shiladze, and Sulaymaniyah.

Migrants often arrive in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, by air. From there, they travel overland to the borders of EU states, including Poland and Lithuania. Minsk is served by direct flights from destinations across the Middle East, including Beirut, Dubai, and Baghdad. The Belarusian state carrier, Belavia, operates flights from Istanbul and Antalya in Turkey, as well as from Dubai. Turkish Airlines also has regular flights to Minsk from Istanbul.

Once they have arrived in Minsk, migrants are often directed to hotels, where they spend several days until they are told to pack their things and get ready to leave. They are then taken to the Lithuanian border, where they are pointed in the direction of the border and told that a car will meet them on the other side. However, for most of them, their journey ends at a detention centre in Lithuania.

They request asylum or contact smugglers to reach Western Europe

Once migrants reach the border with EU members Poland, Lithuania, or Latvia, they may request asylum in Poland or contact family members or smugglers to drive them to Western Europe, their final destination.

Migrants who are granted asylum in Poland are allowed to stay in the country, but those who are not granted asylum may still contact smugglers to reach Western Europe. This is a dangerous journey fraught with risks, and even death.

Migrants who choose to put their fate in the hands of smugglers pay hefty sums, ranging from $10,000 to $15,000, for the entire journey. This includes visas, flights, and overland smuggling once in Europe. Some migrants opt for the more challenging but less expensive route by land, which can cost between $4,000 and $5,000. This journey can take up to a week, and migrants are often transported in trucks, unaware of the countries they pass through or the duration of the trip.

The process of reaching Western Europe is not without its challenges. Many migrants find themselves stranded along the border between Poland and Belarus, with Poland refusing to process asylum applications. Human rights groups have criticised the EU for ignoring the situation on the ground. To prevent migrants from crossing, Poland has erected a barbed wire fence along vulnerable sections of the border and plans to build a wall. Lithuania has also pushed back migrants, with both countries blaming Belarus for the crisis.

The journey to Western Europe is challenging and dangerous, with migrants facing the risk of detention, pushbacks, and even death. Despite the risks, many migrants are willing to take this route, driven by the hope of reaching a better life in their desired destination.

The EU responds by restricting air routes to Belarus

The EU has responded to the Belarus border crisis by restricting air routes to Belarus. This includes a ban on Belarusian airlines flying over EU territory and accessing EU airports. The EU has also imposed sanctions on Belavia, the Belarusian state-owned airline, and other airlines involved in transporting migrants to the country.

In November 2021, the EU banned any aircraft operated by Belarusian airlines from landing in, taking off from, or flying over EU territory. This ban was put in place in response to the unlawful forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk in May 2021. The EU has also called on other countries to restrict flights to Belarus. Turkey, for example, has restricted certain nationalities from buying tickets for flights to Belarus, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has barred Iraqi, Syrian, and Yemeni nationals from flying to Minsk from its airports.

In addition to restricting air routes, the EU has also targeted travel agencies and visa procedures. There have been reports that Belarusian state-owned and private travel agencies have been organizing "tourist trips" and "hunting tours" to Belarus, providing visas, flights, and accommodation for migrants. In response, the EU has imposed sanctions on individuals and entities involved in these operations.

The EU has also targeted the Belarusian government and its supporters with sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes. These sanctions were imposed following the 2020 Belarusian presidential election, which was deemed "neither free nor fair" by the EU, and the subsequent repression of civil society and opposition activists. The EU has also targeted individuals and entities involved in human rights abuses and the illegal crossing of EU external borders.

The EU's response to the Belarus border crisis aims to restrict the flow of migrants to the country and hold those responsible for the crisis accountable. By restricting air routes and imposing sanctions, the EU seeks to deter migrants from using Belarus as a route to enter the EU illegally.

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