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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/strong>They also lack legal assistance and legal certainty. The border crisis began and unfolded simultaneously, putting unprecedented pressure on Belarusian civil society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.»<\/p>\n\n\n\n From the start of the crisis, the response to migrants’ needs was not simple and has only grown more complex with each passing day.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHumanitarian Assistance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The main actors providing humanitarian assistance to migrants are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Medical Assistance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The main actors providing medical assistance to migrants are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Legal Assistance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The main actors providing legal assistance to migrants are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n