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Live Updates: EU Unlikely to Sanction Russia's Aeroflot Over Migrants Row, Source Says

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The migrant crisis has escalated over the past month, with Warsaw accusing Minsk of using it as a "hybrid weapon", which Belarusian authorities deny, saying... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

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Live Updates: EU Unlikely to Sanction Russia's Aeroflot Over Migrants Row, Source Says

05:26 GMT 11.11.2021 (Updated: 18:41 GMT 11.11.2021)

The migrant crisis has escalated over the past month, with Warsaw accusing Minsk of using it as a "hybrid weapon", which Belarusian authorities deny, saying that the country has no resources to stop the migrants due to EU sanctions.

The situation on the Poland-Belarus border remains tense, with thousands of illegal migrants camping out in the area and hoping to cross the border into the European Union.

In the meantime, Warsaw and Ankara have announced they will counter what they've described as a "hybrid attack against neighbours" by Belarus with the use of migrants.

Follow Sputnik's Live Feed to Find Out More!

Table of contents

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23:20 GMT 11.11.2021

EU Countries, US & UK Calling for Strong International Reaction to Belarusian Activities

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) – Four EU member states that have seats in the UN Security Council – Estonia, France, Ireland and Norway – the United Kingdom and the United States as well as Albania have called for a strong international reaction to the Belarusian activities regarding the migration crisis on the border with Poland.

In a joint statement read out by Estonian Ambassador Sven Jurgenson in the UN Security Council, the countries accused Belarus of triggering a border migration crisis to exert pressure on the EU.
"This tactic is unacceptable and calls for a strong international reaction and cooperation in order to hold Belarus accountable. It demonstrates how the [Belarusian President Alexander] Lukashenko regime has become a threat to regional stability. We call on the Belarusian authorities to stop these inhumane actions and not to put people’s lives at risk. International organisations need to be provided with immediate and unhindered access to people therein to deliver humanitarian assistance," the joint statement read.

"The Belarusian authorities should understand that putting pressure on the European Union in this way, through a cynical instrumentalisation of migrants, will not succeed," the statement added.

22:57 GMT 11.11.2021

Minsk Has No Reason to Send Migrants From Border to Home Countries - Russian Diplomat

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - The Belarusian authorities have no reason to expel migrants who arrived legally to their home countries, this would be a violation of all conventions, Russian First Deputy Envoy to UN Dmitry Polyansky told reporters.

"There is no reason why Belarus should send people, who have arrived in Belarus legally, who have visas, to their home countries," Polyansky said.

"This would be a complete violation of any international conventions," he said.

22:45 GMT 11.11.2021

Flight of Russian Aircraft Over Belarus Reaction to Poland's Troops Buildup - Diplomat

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - The flights of Russian military aircraft over Belarus are a reaction to the build-up of the military presence on the Polish-Belarusian border, Russian First Deputy Envoy to UN Dmitry Polyansky told reporters.

When asked to comment on the statements that the flights of Russian aircraft are regarded as a provocative action, Polyansky said: "Those who see it through such a prism forget to say that this is a response to the buildup of the military presence on the Polish-Belarusian border."

"We have obligations within the framework of the union of Russia and Belarus, within the framework of the CSTO. So if there is an increase in military resources on the border with Belarus, we have to react," he said.

These are just reconnaissance flights, nothing more, he said.

"We are not violating anything," Polyansky added.

22:34 GMT 11.11.2021

Polish Security Forces on Highest Alert Amid Border Crisis - President

WARSAW (Sputnik) - Polish security forces are on highest alert in connection with the crisis on the border with Belarus, Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Thursday.

"I assure that Poland is ready to repulse this action by the services of the Lukashenko regime. Our Border Guard, the Polish Army, the police and other services are on highest alert," Duda said in a televised address.

18:40 GMT 11.11.2021

EU Unlikely to Sanction Aeroflot Over Migrants Row, Will Target Charter Flights - Source

The European Union is unlikely to sanction Russian flag carrier Aeroflot in connection with migrants crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border, rather targeting charter carriers, a source in the European Commission told Sputnik.

Earlier in the day, the commission said the EU would look into the option of sanctioning airlines engaged in transferring immigrants to Belarus as part of the fifth sanctions package against Belarus. On Wednesday, the commission's president, Ursula von der Leyen, said the European Union was planning to impose new sanctions on Belarus and the corresponding announcement would come early next week.

"Most likely, the EU will not sanction airlines like Turkish Airlines or Aeroflot, but rather companies/airlines/operators which book and operate charter flights from those regions that the immigrants come from," the source said.

The new sanctions list will include around 45 Belarusian individuals and officials, they will face assets freeze and travel ban in the bloc, he said.

"Those individuals will be Belorussian officials but also people who are responsible for moving immigrants in Belarus," the source specified.

There also might be targeted sanctions for the some financial institutions and banks in Belarus, he added.

Aeroflot earlier denied information about its participation or assistance in organizing mass transportation of migrants to Belarus. The airline said it did not operate regular and charter flights to the cities of Iraq and Syria, as well as flights on the Istanbul — Minsk route.

17:33 GMT 11.11.2021

Germany, Lithuania Vow Tough Sanctions Against Minsk Over Border Migrants Crisis

The foreign ministries of Germany and Lithuania spoke in favor of tough sanctions against Minsk in connection with the situation at the border, the German Foreign Ministry said on Thursday following a phone conversation between Acting German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and his Lithuanian counterpart, Gabrielius Landsbergis.

"Minister Heiko Maas spoke by phone today with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielus Landsbergis about the situation on the border with Belarus. Both agreed that the EU should respond with tough sanctions. Migrants should receive humanitarian aid as soon as possible," the ministry said on Twitter.

17:22 GMT 11.11.2021

Belarus Red Cross Keeps Constant Contact With Minsk to Deliver Aid to Migrants at Border

The Belarusian Red Cross Society maintains permanent contact with the country's authorities on providing humanitarian aid to migrants at the border with Poland, Dmitry Shevtsov, the head of the organization's mission to the country, told Sputnik on Thursday.

Since Monday, more than 2,000 migrants have been camping at the Belarusian side of the border with Poland. Unconfirmed reports suggest that several people have died.

"We will continue to provide assistance for as long as necessary. There is constant interaction between the leadership of the Belarusian Red Cross and representatives of the Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus, the Council of the Republic," Shevtsov said.

Additionally, the group is also in touch with international organizations, such as the UN Refugee Agency, the UN Children's Fund, the International Organization for Migration, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, along with the International Committee of the Red Cross, he said.

It also cooperates with "partnering national societies to determine the participation of all stakeholders in further joint work to help migrants in the current situation," Shevtsov said.

15:46 GMT 11.11.2021

Canada, UK Accuse Belarus of Organizing Migration Crisis in Europe

The escalation of the situation on the border of Belarus and Poland is another action of the Belarusian authorities to create a migration crisis in Europe, London and Ottawa said in a joint statement released by the UK Foreign Office.

"We are deeply concerned about the Belarusian regime’s continued facilitation of migrants into and out of Belarus, and the serious escalation at Belarus’ border with Poland. This is the latest in a series of abhorrent actions by the Lukashenko regime to engineer a migrant crisis in an attempt to undermine Poland and others in the region. It once again highlights the Belarusian regime’s disregard for international norms," the statement says.

London and Ottawa called it a "deeply cynical ploy" to use vulnerable people to put pressure on their neighbors, which, in their opinion, will in no way help resolve the internal political crisis in Belarus.

15:34 GMT 11.11.2021

Putin Holds Second Conversation With Merkel Over Situation at EU-Belarus Border

15:11 GMT 11.11.2021

Four People From Refugee Camp at Belarus-Poland Border Hospitalised

Eighteen people from a refugee camp at the Belarus-Poland border asked for medical assistance over the past 24 hours and four were taken to a hospital, Aleksey Shcherbinsky, the Belarusian Health Ministry official, said on Thursday.

"Over the past day, 18 people from the refugee camp have turned to hospitals and clinics for medical help. Four were hospitalized," Shcherbinsky said, as quoted by the ministry in its Telegram channel.

14:24 GMT 11.11.2021

UN, IOM Staff Deliver Aid to Migrants at Polish-Belarusian Border

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), together with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Belarusian Red Cross, delivered aid to migrants on the Polish-Belarusian border on Thursday, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said.

"Today in Belarus UNHCR and IOM together with the Belarus Red Cross delivered assistance to people stranded at the border. Priorities now are to prevent loss of life and move people to safer locations in Belarus. We appreciate access and are ready to assist in finding solutions," Grandi said on Twitter.

13:07 GMT 11.11.2021

Lukashenko Congratulates Polish People on Independence Day Amid Migrant Crisis

People hold Polish national flag during a demonstration in Gdansk, Poland February 28, 2016. - Sputnik International, 1920, 11.11.2021

Lukashenko Congratulates Polish People on Independence Day Amid Migrant Crisis

11 November 2021, 13:05 GMT

11:53 GMT 11.11.2021

Lavrov Stresses Russia's Flag Carrier Aeroflot Not Involved in Border Migration Crisis

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov refuted claims about flag carrier Aeroflot's involvement in the migration crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border.

"Speaking in very diplomatic terms, this is not true," Lavrov said at a press conference on Thursday.

11:53 GMT 11.11.2021

Lukashenko on Threats of EU Sanctions: What if Belarus Suspends Transit of Goods

"They are threatening the fifth package too much … Poland scares us that it will close the border. Please close it: fewer runaways will go there. This is not the question … And if we close the transit through Belarus? It will not pass through Ukraine: the Russian border is closed there. There are no roads through the Baltics. If we close it to the Poles and, for example, to the Germans, what will happen then? We must stop at nothing in defending our sovereignty and independence", Lukashenko said, as quoted by the Belta news agency.

11:07 GMT 11.11.2021

Maas Says EU Will Expand Sanctions on Belarus

"The EU will expand and tighten its sanctions against the regime of [Belarusian President Alexander] Lukashenko. We will make a decision on this at the foreign ministers' council in Brussels on Monday. Sanctions will be imposed on individuals and companies engaged in targeted smuggling all over the world. Further options are being discussed, for example, the expansion of existing sanctions, primarily the so-called sectoral sanctions, that is, economic ones", Acting Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told the German parliament.

09:55 GMT 11.11.2021

Belarusian Military Says It's Forced to Respond to Poland's Activity Amid Border Crisis

"Given the reluctance of the military leadership of Poland to enter into dialogue, rejection of our steps aimed at resolving issues within the framework of international norms, as well as unfounded accusations against the Belarusian military as a whole, the Belarusian military department is forced to take adequate response measures both independently and within the existing agreements with our strategic ally [Russia]", the defence ministry wrote on its Telegram channel.

09:05 GMT 11.11.2021

Lukashenko Instructs Belarus' Defence Ministry, Security Committee to Control Movement of NATO, Polish Troops

"The Ministry of Defence, the KGB, the border troops are to ensure control over the movement of NATO and Polish troops. You see that 15,000 servicemen, tanks, armoured vehicles, helicopters have already flown with planes. They pulled up to our border, moreover, insolently, without warning anyone", Lukashenko said during a government meeting, as quoted by the state-run Belta news agency.

09:01 GMT 11.11.2021

Russia's Aeroflot Refutes Information About Its Participation in Transportation of Migrants to Belarus

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The information about the participation of Russia’s Aeroflot in mass transportation of migrations to Belarus is false, and the threat of sanctions may negatively affect the company, the airline said on Thursday.

"Information about the participation or assistance of Aeroflot PJSC in organising the mass transportation of migrants to the territory of Belarus does not correspond to reality", the company said in a statement.

The airline added that it is not performing flights to Iraq and Syria, or from Istanbul to Minsk.

"Information about the threat of imposition of sanctions may have a material negative impact on the operating, financial activities of the company, its capitalisation", Aeroflot added.

08:57 GMT 11.11.2021

Some 200 People Joined Refugee Camp Near Belarusian-Polish Border, Minsk Says

MINSK (Sputnik) - Approximately 200 people arrived in a refugee camp near the Belarusian-Polish border over the past 24 hours, the Belarusian Border Committee said on Thursday, adding that the total number reached over 2,000.

"As of the morning of November 11, more than 2,000 refugees, including many women and small children, stay at the border at the Polish barriers. During the day, several small groups arrived at the camp, a total of about 200 people," the committee wrote on its Telegram channel.

08:30 GMT 11.11.2021

Approximately 150 Illegal Migrants Attempted to Cross Polish-Belarussian Border on Wednesday Night, Warsaw Says

WARSAW (Sputnik) - Around 150 illegal migrants made an attempt to cross into Poland from Belarus on the night into Thursday, Polish Deputy Interior Minister Bartosz Grodecki said.

"An attempt to cross the border by force was made overnight. A group of around 150 people tried to storm the border at the section of the Podlaski border guard regional unit," Grodecki said on air of Polsat broadcaster.