Human Constanta monitors the crisis on the border between Belarus and the European Union from the Belarusian side from the very beginning. The organization has conducted surveys of migrants, maintained communication with state authorities and other stakeholders, and collected data from open sources.
The main problem for migrants in Belarus is the lack of systematic humanitarian and medical support from the authorities and/or civil society organizations, especially during the winter. They also lack legal assistance and legal certainty. The border crisis began and unfolded simultaneously, putting unprecedented pressure on Belarusian civil society.
Since the 2020 presidential elections, more than 1,800 civil society organizations have been dissolved or forced to liquidate. Volunteers not affiliated with any registered organization may also face criminal prosecution. Legislative amendments to the Belarusian Criminal Code, adopted in December 2021, reintroduced criminal liability for “actions on behalf of unregistered or dissolved organizations.”
From the start of the crisis, the response to migrants’ needs was not simple and has only grown more complex with each passing day.
Humanitarian Assistance
The main actors providing humanitarian assistance to migrants are:
- IOM (International Organization for Migration), which provided assistance under the voluntary return program (until 2024) and, in certain cases, also provided humanitarian aid.
- The Belarusian Red Cross, which operates with the authorities’ approval, coordinated assistance at the refugee camp near the Bruzgi crossing (November 2021—spring 2022) and provided humanitarian aid to irregular migrants in isolated cases.
- Polish organization Hope and Humanity, which provided remote assistance.
- Human Constanta, which supported migrants from 2021 to 2023.
- Independent volunteer groups, including IT workers, anarchist initiatives, and individual opposition parties that provided food, clothing, and shelter.
Medical Assistance
The main actors providing medical assistance to migrants are:
- State medical institutions, which provide emergency medical assistance.
- Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which provided medical assistance and covered treatment costs for migrants.
According to Belarusian legislation, foreigners entering Belarus must have medical insurance to receive healthcare services. However, many migrants’ visas and insurance policies expired quickly, and others who entered Belarus from Russia did not have insurance valid for Belarus. While Belarusian doctors do not refuse emergency medical care to uninsured patients, many migrants are afraid to seek medical assistance for fear of being detained or arrested.
From autumn 2021 to the end of 2023, the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) mission in Belarus was the only organization providing medical support to migrants in Belarus. MSF conducted initial medical examinations and helped pay for medical treatment in Belarusian healthcare institutions. However, at the beginning of 2024, MSF’s mission to assist migrants in Belarus ended for internal reasons.
Legal Assistance
The main actors providing legal assistance to migrants are:
- Human Constanta, which monitors the situation and provides legal support to all foreigners in Belarus.
- UNHCR and its partner organization, the Refugee Counselling Service, which provide support to individuals seeking international protection.
Licensed lawyers authorized by the Ministry of Justice may also provide legal assistance. However, due to political pressure, 141 lawyers were stripped of their licenses, and 6 remain under arrest. The state is only obliged to provide a lawyer in criminal cases, but not in administrative cases, such as arrests for violating migration rules or deportation.
Human Constanta has been supporting foreigners in Belarus throughout the migration crisis, responding to changes in the situation on the EU border. The number of requests for legal assistance reflects the crisis’s growth. For example, requests from Cuban citizens increased from 1 in 2021 to 50 in 2022, from Syrian citizens grew from 9 in 2021 to 26 in 2023, from Yemeni citizens increased from 0 in 2021 to 23 in 2023. Applications for protection in Belarus grew from 8 in 2021 (1.26% of total consultations) to 59 in 2022 (22%). During the border crisis, Human Constanta provided no fewer than 320 consultations to people who found themselves in Belarus due to the border crisis.
We continue to fight for these people’s rights by providing legal and humanitarian assistance. However, to keep this work going, we need your donations. Every contribution matters! Make your donation via the link.
