WARSAW: Poland said on Friday that it had launched an information campaign abroad to deter migrants from trying to cross into the European Union through its border with Belarus.

Warsaw has blamed Belarus and its ally Russia for what it calls a hybrid operation to increase migratory pressure at its eastern border in a bid to destabilise the bloc, allegations both countries deny.

In March, the Polish government suspended the right to seek asylum, a move intended to deter irregular migrants that was met with outrage from rights groups.

“Poland protects its borders effectively. We’ve launched an information campaign in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Pakistan and Egypt that is aimed at illegal migrants,” Foreign Minister Rados­law Sikorski said on X.

He linked to one of the campaign’s videos that showed Polish border gua­rds escorting individuals, as well as other images like barking dogs, stop signs, handcuffs and money.

“If someone illegally crosses the border, they will not receive asylum,” the narrator says in Pashto.

“Those who promised you (a) prosperous life in Europe don’t care about your happiness, they only care about your money,” he adds.

Poland’s foreign ministry spokesman Pawel Wron­ski said: “The point is for people to not lose their money and health.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2025