‘We Are Waiting For Passengers To Return From ‘Conversations’
- 18.03.2025, 16:10
What is happening on the border of Belarus with the European Union.
In the first month and a half of 2025, several dozen people were detained upon returning to Belarus.
BGmedia journalists read what users of border Telegram chats wrote last week and at the beginning of this week about phone checks and interrogations at the Belarusian border.
How security forces check people at the border
In one of the chats, a Belarusian told how he was not allowed to leave the country on Wednesday, March 12:
“Poland — Belarus, bus Minsk — Warsaw. At 14.40 we left Minsk. At 18.39 we stood in line, there was 1 bus and 1 minibus in front of us. At 19.50 we went to the check. At about 20.24 everyone passed. There will be no further updates, they did not let me through.”
The questioning of Belarusians at the border is written about in veiled terms in chats, and details are rarely given:
“Poland — Belarus, 12.03 at 12.00. Arrived at the border at 15.50, immediately passed through the barrier. At 16.40 passed Polish control, heading to ours/standing on the bridge. At 16.50 passport check on the bus. At 17.00 with things to control. At 17.50 we passed the Belarusian checkpoint, but were waiting for the passengers to return from the talks. At 18.35 we left for Belarus. Total time: almost 4 hours for both borders.”
“Poland — Belarus, Warsaw — Pinsk, 14.03.2025 (Polish time). Passed the Poles at 01.55. Passed the Belarusians and waited for people to return from conversations at 08.10. We were inspected by customs slowly and thoroughly, they opened bags, weighed things. Total: 8 hours for crossing the border.”
“Poland — Belarus (Polish time) [March 15]. At 17.40 we drove under the 2nd barrier. 19.05-19.20 — we passed passport control. At 21.00 we drove onto the bridge, we are standing 3-5 in front of the Belarusian checkpoint. At 00.00 we passed the Belarusian passport control. At 00.30 we left the border, having waited for people to return from “interviews”.
“Vilnius — Minsk, March 16. 17.45 — Vilnius airport, the bus was full. 20.00-20.30 — Belarusian checkpoint, customs — scanner, everything went quite calmly, without incidents. But at 21.05 we left the checkpoint, having three interviews and three inspections on the bus. 23.03 — we arrived at the Minsk bus station.”
They write more openly about interrogations of Ukrainian citizens at the Belarusian border in border chats, although there were few such messages last week:
“16.03, Minsktrans, Riga — Minsk, departure from Riga at 22.00. 03.35 — Lithuanian border, passport control, no luggage. Everything was fast, clear, and polite. There were 36 people on the bus, one was taken off with an expired Schengen visa.
Three Ukrainian citizens were taken away for a conversation. At 05.04 they left the Belarusian border. Total: an hour and a half to pass both borders. Although we quickly crossed the borders, we actually arrived late! The driver drove slower on the highway than in Minsk.”