Not all immigrants chose to leave the border. Some want to stay and still hope to be able to enter the European Union. This includes the Iraqis. The Iraqi government has called on its citizens to return because they would not be welcome in the European Union anyway. Return flights have been arranged, and it is expected to leave the Belarusian capital, Minsk, on the first morning. It is unclear whether and how many people will attend.

Merkel invites Lukashenko

German Chancellor Merkel again had phone calls with Belarusian President Lukashenko today. According to its spokesperson, it has stressed the need to provide humanitarian assistance to people in the border area, along with the United Nations, among others. Aid organizations believe about a dozen people have died in the area recently, from hail and drowning, among other things.

It was also noted in the statement that no mention was made of “President Lukashenko” but rather “Mr. Lukashenko”. Many Western countries no longer recognize it, after selling out the rigged presidential election in August last year.

Poland criticized Merkel last week in a phone conversation she had with the Belarusian dictator on Monday. According to the Polish government spokesman, the conversation “was not a good step” and that the country would not accept any agreements concluded without the participation of the Poles.

Poland and the European Union accuse Belarusian President Lukashenko of seeking to destabilize the European Union by sending many migrants in retaliation for Western sanctions against his regime. They talk about a “mixed war”. Lukashenko said earlier that he would no longer hold people back from their path to a better life “in the Pleasant West”.

There are still thousands of immigrants in Belarus near the Polish border. In this video you can see where they are and under what conditions: