Poland urges citizens to leave Belarus amid rising tensions

The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised citizens to leave Belarus "through available commercial and private means" and strongly warned against travel to the country, citing security risks and strained bilateral relations.

“It is not a democratic country and is not friendly to Poland. I would like these warnings to be taken as seriously as possible,” ministry spokesman Paweł Wroński said on September 5, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

Speaking at a briefing, Wroński stressed that Polish nationals in Belarus could face unfavourable circumstances.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly advises against traveling to the territory of Belarus. It is not a democratic country and not a country friendly to the Republic of Poland,” he added.

The warning follows the detention of Polish citizen and Catholic monk Grzegorz Havel, whom Belarusian authorities accused of espionage during the joint Russian-Belarusian military drills Zapad-2025. Belarusian state media aired footage of Havel’s arrest, allegeging that he was gathering intelligence on the exercises. However, the independent portal Zerkalo identified him as a Carmelite monk from Krakow who had defended an academic dissertation on a religious topic.

Wroński condemned the detention as a provocation aimed at destabilising Poland and vowed support for the detained citizen.

“Poland will provide all possible support,” he said.

Warsaw has described the incident as a political maneuver by Minsk to pressure Poland and its allies.

The Zapad-2025 maneuvers are scheduled to take place in Belarus and partially in Russia from September 12 to 16. According to official statements, the exercises aim to test the joint capabilities of Russia and Belarus in ensuring security and repelling aggression.

By Sabina Mammadli