An article published by GB News claims that Russia, as part of a “hybrid war,” is using Belarus to smuggle migrants into Europe, primarily to the Polish border.
The article states that underground tunnels are used to transport migrants. According to Polish officials, “Belarus attracted specialists from the Middle East who are experts in this field to design the tunnels.”
Further, the material describes the practice of “instrumentalized migration”: Belarusian structures, according to the article, organize visas and transport for migrants, and at the border Belarusian security forces accompany them to Polish territory and do not allow them to return back.
The text cites statements by Bulgarian Interior Minister Daniel Mitov that illegal migration is being used by “hostile regimes” to destabilize the EU and UK (including the risk of infiltration by radicalized individuals), as well as a comment by Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper that illegal migration is fueled not only by criminal networks, but also by “hostile state actors.”