Scientist from Białowieża: The government tries to manage the crisis from Warsaw, unaware of the realities here

What’s happening in Podlasie, in Białowieża, is far from normal, and we should all be concerned, following the resolution of the border situation with bated breath.

For several years now, you’ve been under constant military pressure.

– We frequently encounter military trucks, armed soldiers, and patrols stopping us in the forest.

What does that look like?

– Some soldiers don’t fully understand what citizens are allowed to do in the border zone, especially in areas that have recently been re-designated as no-entry zones. Often, the military personnel are unfamiliar with the regulations and citizens' rights.

Can you give an example?

– Soldiers demanding to see our IDs and photographing them with their personal phones. As a result, my personal data is stored on various private military phones, and I don’t even know who they are because they don’t introduce themselves.

Under the PiS government, the military was overly zealous, and there was no room for dialogue. They stopped and checked everyone. Often, these were even civilians posing as soldiers, and citizens didn’t know how to respond.

Were you left to fend for yourselves?

- We have a doctoral student in our Institute who has a darker complexion. He’s lived in Białowieża for two years. One day he went for a walk with his dog. Soldiers stopped him, and not knowing English, they couldn’t communicate with him.

They started questioning him – what is he doing here, who is he? The guy was terrified at the sight of soldiers with their hands on their holsters. They tried to pull him onto a truck. They probably just wanted to take him to the border. Luckily, he managed to ask for contact with the Institute, and they brought him to us, and we clarified the situation.

Our soldiers speak little English, while the Institute employs people from ten different countries. Many don’t know Polish. They work in the forest daily, conducting research, so I fear what might happen to them at the hands of our officers. I feel that procedures are often applied hastily and blindly.

Do soldiers not know what citizens' rights and rules are in the border zone?

- As researchers, we are legally allowed to enter the restricted border zone. However, the soldiers often don't know this, so conversations usually end with them ordering us to leave, and that’s it. We tried negotiating with the Border Guard to get written permission for movement, but have not succeeded. So, we carry ID badges with our photos and the name of our Institute. I understand the soldiers are under a lot of pressure, but that doesn’t excuse them from knowing and following the regulations. By the third year of the migration crisis, you’d expect some sort of procedure to be in place. Especially since Białowieża is a very popular tourist spot, attracting visitors from all over the world.

Dr. Hanna Machińska, a human rights activist who has often intervened in illegal pushbacks, highlights the immense pressure on soldiers – often very young people sent to the border from across the country. They are unprepared for confrontations with aggressive individuals attacking the barrier. The late Mateusz Sitek, a soldier who was stabbed at the Polish-Belarusian border in late May, was only 21 years old.

– There was little talk about it, but the locals were deeply affected. It was a shock for us. But even before that, tragic events occurred. Two years ago, in winter, a young soldier shot himself literally right next to our Institute’s fence.

I understand the tragedy for the families and friends of the deceased soldiers. But few realize the burden these situations place on the local community. There are reports that something is brewing in Belarus, that Wagner Group mercenaries have arrived, and now there are Chinese troops there. This all creates constant anxiety among the residents. Two Belarusian combat helicopters even circled over our Institute. Yet, under the PiS government, the Ministry of National Defense denied what we all saw with our own eyes for several hours. Such actions do not build trust in not only the officials but also state institutions.

Every day I see uniformed personnel in Białowieża and the Forest. Often, they are very young and some seem lost. From what we hear, they are not well-prepared for tasks that are more in the realm of police work than military duties. Maybe that’s why the soldiers act on intuition and make mistakes.

You showed on social media the conditions our soldiers endure in the forest while guarding the border zone.

– I understand the situation is extreme and we often require the military to improvise, but after three years of the migration crisis, our soldiers shouldn’t be using cardboard and plastic to shelter in the forest. I’ve seen makeshift huts built by soldiers there. Since the border has become their permanent station, we could at least invest in simple military tents that offer some chance for rest and recuperation. It’s about their physical and mental well-being and our safety. If we’re entrusting our fate to these young people, the state should take better care of them.

Białowieża Forest is not a hospitable place. There are many biting insects, flies, and mosquitoes. There are ticks, it’s damp, and the terrain is difficult to navigate. In November and December, it’s very cold, and the snow there is quite different from what we’re used to.

But shouldn't soldiers be tough? Even the former acting chief of the Bureau of National Security, General Roman Polko criticized you.

– General Polko criticized me, saying soldiers need to be accustomed to tough conditions. I understand that in emergency situations, soldiers should be prepared for extreme circumstances. However, after three years of crisis, deliberately keeping soldiers out in the rain when tents are available in warehouses doesn't seem particularly wise to me.

Besides affecting morale, shelters made of foil and cardboard in the middle of the forest also litter the environment.

The government is planning the National Security Plan "Shield East". How are the interactions between soldiers and residents? Has the military become part of the local community?

– There are certainly soldiers with a combative attitude, who, to put it mildly, assert their dominance over civilians. But there are also those you can talk to. Since it looks like they’ll be here for a while, it’s worth improving how they communicate with the local communities. It's important for them to understand our expectations and get to know us better. Many of us are very tired from the constant stress, and the military needs to take that into account.

As a citizen who encounters soldiers, I need to know that I won’t be met with unreasonable behavior. Residents can also help the military in certain situations. This is a new situation for both sides, so it's worth working on collaboration methods. After all, civilians are often the first to notice potential threats from saboteurs or provocateurs.

We lived in the "closed zone" for 10 months; you couldn't enter Białowieża. In my opinion, the organization was unprofessional. Daily interactions with police or military personnel who poorly understand the regulations are a real ordeal.

How are the relationships between the military and volunteers or activists helping migrants?

– They’re not the best. I know many people who help, and I've helped too. When someone asks for water or is sick, you need to act decently. From what I know, the military sometimes treats activists harshly, leading to conflicts between the forces and humanitarian organizations. This largely stems from the controversial strategy of managing this crisis.

And what strategy is that?

– The pushback strategy, which involves transporting captured refugees in Poland back to Belarus. It's clear to everyone that those expelled from Poland can't return to their home countries and will continue trying to cross our border. Lukashenko deceived thousands of foreigners into coming to our border. They’re trapped here and must somehow move on. Belarusian forces scare them, exploit them, beat them, and keep them in terrible conditions, making them increasingly desperate.

Because of pushbacks, our forces have more work, having to catch the same people multiple times. It doesn't make sense to me. Locals generally reacted correctly when they saw someone in distress. Seeing people with children, hungry, without proper clothing, they simply helped. Then they faced governmental criticism, with politicians harshly accusing us of anti-Polish motives for helping.

The government, trying to manage the crisis from Warsaw, detached from our local reality, couldn’t understand that citizens had a different perspective. They did little to explain what was happening, what strategy the government adopted, and how citizens should navigate it.

The people living here were left on their own. And this largely continues today.

When we see lost people who have illegally crossed the Polish border asking for help, the burden of their fate falls on us. What should we do? Call the Border Guard, who will likely send them back to Belarus? Then we might see the same people again in a few days. We want to obey the law, but we also want to remain humane.

Is indifference an option?

– You can try to ignore a person in need in a big city, but not in the Forest. Here, not providing help has different implications and consequences.

Recently, I met a woman from Somalia in the marshy forest. Her arm was cut, her stomach hurt, she asked to be taken to a hospital, she couldn’t walk, and her shoes were soaked. I can’t imagine walking past indifferently. This isn't a movie; it's real life.

What do you do in such a situation? Do you call the authorities?

– In the dense forest, there's usually no signal, so I first have to get out of the swamps. Then I can call the authorities or a humanitarian aid group. Different people make different choices. Unfortunately, some try to take advantage and behave shamefully – robbing these people or extorting money for help, only to call the Border Guard afterward.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said in an interview with Jacek Żakowski on TOK FM radio that we are dealing with "hordes of bandits" attacking uniformed personnel at the Polish-Belarusian border.

- Firstly, as far as I know, there are no reliable estimates of how many people were and still are at the Polish-Belarusian border and how many manage to get into Poland. Secondly, the word "horde" is highly inappropriate. We're talking about people.

But what about those who are aggressive, throwing dangerous objects at our officers? One of their victims was the 21-year-old Mateusz Sitek.

- I’ve seen the Border Guard’s footage. I absolutely do not deny the threats and dangers our soldiers, police officers, and border guards face. However, the state cannot generalize and apply collective punishment by calling everyone a "horde". Not everyone behaves that way, and besides, we don't know how much the Belarusian services are involved in initiating actions at the border. Crisis management cannot rely on fear-mongering. It seems much more sensible to develop various action plans for dealing with different behaviors of foreigners at the border.

It's worth noting that I don’t know of any cases of aggression from migrants already on our side, in the forest, towards citizens or our employees. We’ve encountered hundreds of such people. I could have been attacked, robbed, or had my car keys taken by them many times. None of that ever happened.

So, how should the crisis be managed?

– In my opinion, people like me, who aren’t professionals in resolving migration conflicts, shouldn’t dictate what needs to be done. Let's leave that to the experts. There are already far too many public suggestions on further actions, including drastic ones like electrifying the barrier or mining the area, which terrifies me given the state’s tolerance of these creators.

Nationalists boast about their patrol recordings at the Belarusian border.

– This worries me: battlegroups operating without oversight. I believe this poses a huge threat at the border, also to our citizens. I hope our services will effectively combat this lawlessness, especially since there are calls to assault activists providing aid.

I urge authorities and politicians managing this crisis to ensure such things don’t happen.

Do you see a difference in crisis management between the previous and current government?

– Now, at least there is some communication. Previously, no one wanted to talk to us; our information was treated as deceit. When we reported finding bodies, PiS ministers labeled us as the Belarusian faction acting on behalf of an enemy regime. After the government changed, we contacted ministry employees several times. They considered our suggestions for increasing animal safety near the barrier.

The Military Police began controlling military vehicle traffic because previously, we had self-appointed "sheriffs" racing through villages in military trucks, forcing everyone off the road, killing several bison in the process. There's undeniably an attempt to civilize this situation. But it’s still not enough.

What else would you expect?

– I’d expect officers from various services stationed at the border to be monitored by an internal agency checking the quality of their work. Someone should regularly inspect how they perform their duties, how they interact with residents and tourists, not only to eliminate abuses and irregularities but also to train them on the legal aspects of their presence in this area.

Here’s an example: when conducting research in Białowieża National Park, our Institute’s employees need a permit and must report each entry, yet it turned out that at the same time, soldiers were jogging in the Park during their free time, which was visible on a special running app.

Isn’t that nitpicking?

– Calling for adherence to procedures isn’t nitpicking. I believe that the functioning of uniformed officers should be subject to greater control, also to build a partnership relationship with the area's residents.

The Sejm [Lower house of the Polish parliament – translator’s note] has passed a law allowing border shootings. The military, operating under peacekeeping missions, will legally be able to use firearms against civilians if there are justified reasons, once the president signs it.

Frankly, we are scared. I fear for my people working in the forest; they could be mistakenly identified as smugglers or refugees. We want to equip our staff with reflective vests to be visible from a distance, indicating they are not hiding.

According to polls, Poles have accepted this decision.

– If they’re watching Border Guard footage and listening to politicians, it’s understandable they accept it. But it all depends on your perspective. I invite Polish people to come and walk through the Białowieża Forest at night, counting bats like we sometimes do. Then we’ll see if they still feel as safe.

Are human rights being violated at the border now?

– I’m going to dodge that question..

Why?

– My life rule is not to talk too much about things I don’t fully understand..

And what about the possibility of war with Russia?

– Of course, we talk about it.

Do you, the Institute’s employees, and the residents consider leaving Białowieża?

As a native of Warsaw, I dreamed of spending every free moment in Białowieża Forest; it was a haven of peace compared to the crowded city. The border crisis has changed that situation. Białowieża is still a great place, and I encourage everyone to visit the Forest. But we’re only three kilometers from the border, so it’s no wonder people question if it’s a good place to live. Although several of my friends have just started building houses here.

So what conclusions are you reaching?

– Various ones. I don’t know what the future holds or how the border crisis will develop. It has also changed the work and research plans of our Institute. Some projects that were originally supposed to be conducted in the Forest have been moved to central Poland, for instance.

Trucks and soldiers are now present in the Forest, even in the strict reserve, where migrants light campfires. This is an unprecedented situation.

Some people at the Institute have also been deeply affected. Our staff have found bodies. This doesn’t leave one’s psyche untouched, and it changes how we view the Forest as a place of work.

What do foreign scientists say when you tell them about this?

– I was recently in Sweden, where I worked for a few years. When I told my colleagues there about what’s happening in Białowieża, they were shocked that such things are happening in the European Union. We’re talking about not just one or two cases, but dozens of people who lost their lives in Poland and probably tens of thousands who crossed our border illegally.

What about the animals in the Białowieża Forest?

– The presence of people in the forest changes the ecosystem. We can’t yet assess the full extent of the negative consequences. We know animals are dying, caught in razor wire, and they avoid the area near the border fence. But we are only beginning to study these phenomena.

Is there any hope?

– We should do everything to minimize the environmental losses and costs associated with the military presence and border security. I’m hopeful that the "Shield East" plan will consider the natural values of these areas.

After all, the natural state of these ecosystems, with their swamps and dead trees, provides excellent border security, making it very difficult for any military aggression. I hope we don’t destroy this, that we don’t start digging trenches or cutting down the forest.

Instead, we should use the terrain to enhance its defensive qualities. The authorities must listen to experts and scientists. National security is paramount, but let’s not forget nature, which has saved us more than once.

You previously collaborated with Belarusian scientists.

– We cut off all scientific contacts with Belarus and Russia after their aggression against Ukraine.

What about tourism? Is it worth visiting Białowieża now?

- It’s definitely worth it. The Forest hasn’t lost its charm; wolves, lynxes, and bison are still here, and it remains a wonderful forest. It’s best not to go near the border itself, as there is a restricted zone, but other parts of the Forest are open, where you can observe the incredible diversity and dynamics of a natural forest.

We’re organizing an international conference in Białowieża on this topic. And for those who don’t enjoy forest walks, there are plenty of attractions in the surrounding villages. Despite the border tensions, it remains a fascinating tourist destination.

What will Białowieża and the Forest be like a year from now?

– ...(silence). I foresee the crisis not ending soon. We hear that once a migration route is established, it doesn’t disappear with a single political decision; people will continue coming to us from all over the world. We must learn to live in this new reality. At the Institute, we’re trying to gain knowledge from the experiences of other researchers, for example, from the United States, where there is a border wall with Mexico.

See you for an interview next year?

– We’ll see what the world and Poland look like then.

Translation: Patrycja Eiduka