Donald Tusk on the migration danger: Putin and Lukashenko are causing a crisis at the border

The Polish government is facing tensions on its eastern border due to a massive influx of migrants organized by Belarusian and Russian leaders, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in a speech to the Sejm. He said that “Putin and Lukashenko are using migrants for political pressure.”

Tusk also emphasized that the actions of previous governments, particularly those of the Law and Justice party, had increased the risk of migration flows by approximately one million people, especially from African and Arab countries. He noted: “The golden age of smugglers has passed with the arrival of PiS governments.”

The Prime Minister explained that during previous administrations, borders were open, and visas were issued at an unprecedented level, which created opportunities for corruption. Already, 11 people have been charged in the “visa scandal,” with some facing potential court sentences.

Tusk described the situation as “organized and large-scale state corruption” related to the visa process. According to him, in 2023, about 535,000 visas were issued to representatives of countries from which unwanted migration flows come. He also spoke about visa fairs in Nigeria, where Polish visas were openly sold: “I paid the money – I got a visa.”

The government plans to take measures to address the issue of illegal migration, specifically by launching an information campaign led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Tusk asked the parliament to support the temporary suspension of the right to asylum to improve border control.