In the summer of 2021, thousands of migrants, primarily from conflict-affected countries such as Iraq and Syria, arrived at the border between Belarus and the European Union (EU). They attempted to cross the border and seek international protection in the EU. In response, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia declared a state of emergency along their borders with Belarus, reinforced border security, and began constructing barriers, deploying the military to control the situation.
The EU accused Belarus of deliberately orchestrating the flow of migrants, facilitating their arrival at the border, and, in some cases, forcing them to enter the EU illegally. The Belarusian authorities have denied these allegations.
Over the four years of the humanitarian crisis, the Human Constanta team has been monitoring the situation and providing assistance to migrants in distress in Belarus. While 2021 saw the organised arrival of foreigners—mainly from the Middle East—on group and individual tourist visas, the crisis dynamics have changed since 2022, becoming less controlled by the Belarusian authorities. Despite a decline in the number of migrants arriving in Belarus with the intention of crossing into the EU—partly due to the cancellation of direct flights from Iraq and Syria, reduced issuance of tourist visas, and increased detentions and deportations—the humanitarian crisis in Belarus and at the EU border continues. All four countries involved persist in violating migrants’ rights, leaving them in an extremely vulnerable position, sometimes leading to deaths and disappearances.
This report analyses key aspects of the humanitarian crisis in Belarus in 2023–2024, identifies major issues and the most common human rights violations faced by migrants, and provides recommendations for the states and international organisations involved.
The report is based on data collected through monitoring the situation at the EU border and within Belarus. It draws on information obtained from interviews with migrants, witnesses of human rights violations, human rights defenders, and journalists from other countries. The analysis also includes official statements from state authorities, reports from international organisations, and data from open sources.
The full version of the report in PDF format is available for reading and downloading:
