Syrian man found dead on Polish side of border with Belarus

At least nine people are reported to have died at last migration route

The body of a young Syrian man has been found in a wooded area of Poland near the border with Belarus, the latest victim in a political standoff at the European Union’s eastern edge.

The regime in Minsk has for months been encouraging illegal migration across the border into the EU nations of Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. All three countries are reinforcing their borders, seeking to block the route, and the situation is growing more dangerous as winter approaches.

Police said the body was found on Friday near the village of Wolka Terechowska. They said the exact cause of death could not be determined.

At least nine people are reported to have died in the migration encouraged by the longtime president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko.

Many of the migrants are refugees from Syria, Iraq or elsewhere in the Middle East, seeking to flee conflict and hopelessness for the prospect of a better life in Europe.

After the large migration into Europe in 2015, countries have been reinforcing their borders to discourage new arrivals. Nevertheless, tens of thousands try to get in every year, embarking on dangerous and sometimes deadly journeys by sea and land.

Since the summer, thousands have been lured by what appeared to be a new and easier way to get into Europe, through Belarus.

The EU has accused Lukashenko of creating the artificial route in order to retaliate for sanctions against his regime imposed after an election in 2020 that was widely viewed as flawed and the harsh crackdown on internal dissent that followed.