In short

• Belarus is protesting against Poland closing its border during the Zapad 2025 military exercises and is calling for the Polish chargé d'affaires.
• Minsk claims that Poland's decision harms relations and destabilizes the region, calling it an"abuse of its geographical location."
• Polish authorities also announced the expulsion of a Belarusian diplomat. Belarus announced that this move"will not go unanswered."

"Illegal Actions." Belarus Reacts to Poland's Decision

" Illegal actions undertaken by one country actually affect the entire border of the European Union with Belarus, creating serious difficulties for the normal functioning of the international movement of people and goods," we read.

Minsk believes that Poland's actions"harm" many countries, both in the east and in the west, BelTA reports.

"This is an obvious abuse of the geographical location, a 'privatization' of the borders of the EU and the EEU (Eurasian Economic Union - ed.), the West and the East," the Belarusian ministry said.

BelTA reported that Belarus is convinced that the Polish side's move"seems unfounded, especially considering the complete openness and transparency of the Belarusian exercises to the international community."

"The temporary suspension of the border crossing indicates an intention to conceal one's own actions rather than any threat from Belarus. Such actions constitute a continuation of efforts to weaken relations with neighboring countries and contribute to further escalation of tensions in the region, posing a threat to stability and predictability in international relations," the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said.

According to BelTA, the European Union's charge d'affaires in Belarus reportedly drew the attention of the Belarusian side to the position."The European diplomat assured that Poland's actions will be subject to an appropriate assessment of the proportionality of the measures taken and the actual level of threat," the Belarusian ministry stated.

Belarusian diplomat to leave Poland. Minsk announces response

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus strongly condemns the groundless decision of the Polish authorities to expel the Belarusian diplomat. We believe that this is an element of a provocative policy coordinated with the Czech side against the Belarusian state, aimed at further escalating tensions both in interstate relations and in the entire region," we read.

"These actions will not remain unanswered. The decision of the Belarusian side will be made public in the near future," the statement noted.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Tuesday that a Belarusian diplomat would be expelled from Poland"for supporting the aggressive actions of the Belarusian services against our country". He also reported that the services – in cooperation with the Czech Republic, among others – detained a Belarusian agent on Monday.

Minister Coordinator of Special Services Tomasz Siemoniak clarified that on Tuesday the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the charge d'affaires of the Belarusian Embassy"to inform about the deprivation of diplomatic accreditation and the recognition as persona non grata on the territory of Poland of an established Belarusian diplomat directly involved in intelligence activities".