Local government officials from Podlasie appeal to the government to open one border crossing with Belarus

The regional council of this voivodship appealed to the government to open in Podlasie with Belarus. The councilors adopted a position on this matter on Thursday afternoon. The opening of the transition is to help in the development of the region, which bears the economic effects of closing this border.

The draft position was submitted by the PSL club, which is in the coalition ruling with the KO on the board of the Podlasie Voivodship.

27 councilors voted for the position, 1 person did not vote, two were absent at the session.

Podlasie road border crossings with Belarus have been closed for several years. The transition in Kuźnica was closed in November 2021 after Belarus began the migration crisis at this border. The transition in Bobrowniki was closed in March 2023. After the sentence in Belarus was issued against the activist of the Union of Poles in Belarus, journalist Andrzej Poczobut.

The transitions in Podlasie were closed at the time of the United Right government, in the neighboring Lublin Province they were and are open. There is also a passage in Podlasie in Podlasie in Połowce (from Pandemia), but also tourist crossings in Białowieża and Rudawka (water border crossing). Only rail crossings in Kuźnica and Siemianówce are open. Councilors of the Podlasie Voivodship Assembly argue that in connection with the border crossing in the region, the economy of the region and the entrepreneur.

“(…) we see a very strong impact of the lack of open border crossings for the road traffic of persons and goods, a very strong negative impact on the economy of our province. This is evidenced by statistical data related to the functioning of our economy, a slowdown in GDP growth, a difficult situation in sectors of transport, logistics, and wholesale trade” – said the chairman of the Sejmik, at the same time the head of the PSL club Cezary Sieczlukowski.

He added that this results in a limitation of the region's development opportunities, and the closing of crossings is incomprehensible, because there are transitions in Lublin in Terespol and Koroszczyn on the border with Belarus. He emphasized that the opening of one passage in Podlasie could be part of the announced “new abrasion” of the government. He also emphasized that entrepreneurs and residents expect the opening of the passage.

The councilors pointed out in the position that in connection with the closed border, e.g. an increase in costs in transport and logistics, because carriers must look for other routes, e.g. through Lithuania, not Belarus, and this extends the time of delivery, you have to pay more for fuel. The councilors also pointed out that the number of Polish carriers who dealt with the transport of goods to the East fell.

“In the area of ​​trade and local business, the number of clients from Belarus has decreased to virtually zero – before the Belarusians often shopped in the Podlasie Voivodship, which has now dropped drastically” – wrote councilors in the position. They also pointed to the problems of customs agencies that lost their clients, a decrease in business turnover.

The Sejmik also drew attention to a sharp decline in the export of goods and services to Belarus, which results in the fact that companies must look for new markets. It was also argued that the limitation of the export of Polish agricultural production to Belarus results in lower income of farmers and food producers.

The councilors wrote in the position that the closure of the passages was understandable when they were – as defined – “a training ground for the implementation of the migration pressure policy of illegal migrants on Poland” from Russia through the Russia through the Belarusian regime “as part of preparation for aggression on Ukraine”.

At the request of the chairman of the opposition chairman in the PiS club's regional council, Artur Kosicki's councilor was also included in the position – the case of Andrzej Poczobut – adopted as the self -truth. The Sejmik appealed to the government to take all possible actions to free the Poczobut, a political prisoner.

In addition to the border with Belarus in Podlasie, there is also a border with Lithuania. By decision of the Prime Minister, from July 7 to August 5, border checks are to be introduced at this border. They are to prevent migrants from entering Poland, who overcome the trail from Belarus through Lithuania and Latvia. This issue at the Sejmik in the context of the appeal to open the transition with Belarus was not discussed. (PAP)

Kow/ Mark/