Warsaw, Europe News Feed – Poland’s Supreme Court has condemned the country’s government for preventing journalists from accessing the border with Belarus.
Last year, authorities denied dozens of journalists’ access to the border areas with Belarus where thousands of migrants were stuck.
However, the court ruled the ban was “incompatible” with current Polish law.
The court further insisted the country’s constitution guarantees both “freedom of movement” and “freedom to collect and disseminate information”.
“There is no justification for admitting that this particular professional group represents a threat to steps taken,” judges said.
Warsaw imposed a state of emergency in September 2021. It prevented since then journalists and humanitarian organisations from accessing the border region for security reasons.
Reporters had complained to the court after they were arrested after mistakenly entering the prohibited zone.
The Border Crisis
More than 2,000 asylum seekers and migrants, including children, remained on Poland-Belarus borders for several weeks after Polish authorities refused to let them in.
The situation was particularly acute for mothers and children stuck in the extreme cold weather and freezing temperatures without any humanitarian or medical aid.
Children – among the thousands gathered at the border – suffer from hunger and hypothermia, at least one has died.
Poland has earlier deployed 3,000 more soldiers to strengthen the border as tension mount between the two countries
Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said that it was “not a calm night”. “Many attempts to breach the Polish border,” he said.
The migrants’ numbers have unprecedentedly risen over the past few weeks amid tension between Belarus and Poland.
Poland says it has stopped attempts by the large group to enter the country. It further accused Belarus of pushing migrants to the border.
The incident has led to international condemnation from the EU, US and NATO and renewed threats of sanctions.
Poland and other EU states accuse Belarus of encouraging the migrants and refugees to cross in revenge for Western sanctions on Minsk over President Alexander Lukashenko’s crackdown on dissent after last year’s disputed election.
