Humiliating Brest Peace. Obscene peace: how the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk affected the course of Russian history

Alexander Lukashenko decided to open a window to Europe with the help of Ukrainian, Syrian and Chechen refugees. In the coming years, international structures will invest 7 million euros in the construction of camps for migrants in Belarus. The accommodation centers are expected to be able to accommodate up to 10,000 people. Lenta.ru found out the reasons for the sudden hospitality of Minsk.

Sump with camps

The agreement between Minsk and Brussels was first reported by the German newspaper Tageszeitung. The publication refers to the internal documents of the European Commission that were at its disposal. The publication notes that each of the future camps will accommodate 30-50 people; conditions of stay must comply with the "best European and international standards". In particular, there should be separate residential sections for women and families, as well as the opportunity to receive on-site psychological and medical care. The camps will be not only open, but also closed type, in which "migrants will be kept under lock and key until they are deported from Belarus or leave it voluntarily."

The project will be financed under the European Neighborhood Program from 2017 to 2020. Belarus is expected to accept refugees from Syria, from Ukraine and Russians "who are fleeing from economic difficulties". In the opinion of the German newspaper, the latter category will primarily fall into the migrants from Chechnya.

Belarusian officials spoke cautiously about this initiative at first. The country's Foreign Ministry confirmed the information on cooperation with the EU and noted that Minsk would implement the project jointly with the International Organization for Migration (UN). The Ministry of Internal Affairs indicated that 7 million euros are allocated to address issues of combating illegal migration and managing migration. "One of the components will be the modernization of detention centers for foreigners detained for illegal stay," a source in the department told reporters. At the same time, the representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus stressed that we are not talking about additional reception immigrants from Europe, but only about improving conditions for those who are now trying to get into the EU through Belarus. The last statement, however, is not pronounced very clearly in Minsk.

In Moscow, the initiative of the Belarusian side caused some bewilderment, because there is no border control between the countries. “Given that we do not have a formal land border with Belarus, this, of course, creates questions and opportunities for abuse. We are starting a dialogue on this topic with our Belarusian colleagues. In principle, we have been negotiating a common migration policy for a long time. Now, I think, all these events require speeding up these conversations and finally leading to some results,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, in turn, promised that he would not allow the country to be turned into a "sump" for migrants. “I want to warn you that there should not be any “sump”. We do not need foreign migrants here. Money should be allocated not only for the creation of such centers and settlements for illegal migrants, but also for their further extradition. We don't need them here. This must be kept in mind. Therefore, while we have not gone far in this regard, if there are any dangers, we must immediately suspend such processes. If necessary," Lukashenka said

Brest fortress of refugees

To an outside observer, it may seem that a quiet, peaceful Belarus and the migration crisis have nothing to do with each other. Indeed, the country's border with the European Union is one of the most peaceful in the region; hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria and Iraq are hard to imagine here. However, the difficulty is the influx of migrants from Central Asia and from the Caucasus. Especially a lot of migrants in Brest region accumulate in the summer, when you can sleep even in a tent, even under the open sky. In total, in the first half of 2016, according to the press service of the Brest Border Group, 16,517 departures of North Caucasian and Central Asian migrants through the Brest checkpoint were recorded ( Train Station). Moreover, if in January there were only 961 departures to Poland, then only in the first week of June - 1828. They migrate mainly by family clans or small companies. At the same time, the best share is not enough for everyone. About 70 percent of those who left are returning. Accommodation centers will also be built for these people. In Belarus, in this regard, they fear that now the problem of seasonal migrants may become permanent - in special detention centers, you can expect a decision on documents without fear of cold weather.

There are more global benefits from the emerging cooperation. Tageszeitung notes that in exchange for agreeing to accommodate "problem" migrants, Belarus will receive substantial bonuses from the European Union. It's about on three agreements between Minsk and Brussels. The first provides for a significant simplification of the visa regime for Belarusians. Minsk is actively pursuing this last years. Interestingly, at the same time, Belarus is the world leader in the number of Schengen visas issued: according to the European Commission, 880,000 were issued in 2014, and 753,000 in 2015, RT reports. The second agreement should regulate the so-called mobile partnership - a simplified procedure for issuing work and student visas for Belarusians. The third agreement assumes that Belarus will assume readmission obligations - it will have to take back the refugees who entered the European Union through its territory.

It is known that in Belarus there are now about three million square meters empty housing. The authorities are unlikely to decide to place refugees in deserted villages or individual apartments in apartment buildings, but this can easily be done, for example, in border villages. Of course, all this may shock the migrants themselves, because in their view Europe is high benefits, comfortable accommodation centers, tolerant natives. It is unlikely that Belarus will seem like a resort to them. It is known that many of them are already experiencing a break in the pattern in the Baltics. Thus, in September, a family of Syrian refugees who arrived in Lithuania demanded to be sent to Canada or another country with a developed system of social guarantees. The head of the Syrian family, Ali Abdullah, told reporters that the payments and benefits promised to him in Vilnius do not cover living expenses. He added that he was also dissatisfied with the Lithuanian healthcare system.

Bargaining is appropriate

Belarus, however, can derive certain foreign policy benefits for itself at minimal cost. The head of the Mises Research Center (Minsk), Yaroslav Romanchuk, told Lente.ru that Lukashenka is trying to find common ground with the European Union. “It is clear that the topic of migration is very painful for European officials, they welcome any help, support in this matter. Belarus, for its part, is looking for common ground, hoping for financial assistance removal of trade barriers. It is important for Minsk that it is possible to cooperate on the issue of refugees without changing political and legal institutions, which the EU insisted on earlier. This is such a herbivore topic that does not require internal changes", says the expert. According to him, in the future Minsk hopes to get the status of a country with a market economy, which is necessary for joining the WTO. Political scientist, associate professor at MGIMO Kirill Koktysh believes that Lukashenka can try to use the topic of migrants as an argument in disputes with Russia.

It is also interesting that European officials for a long time reproached the Belarusian regime for being undemocratic, calling it “the last dictatorship in Europe”, but the topic of human rights is not raised when discussing the migration issue. On the contrary, it seems that Belarus suits Brussels precisely in its authoritarian capacity. The democratic government would be forced to discuss everything with the population, to coordinate the construction of centers at the local level. In this case, it is possible to easily transfer at least part of the acute problem to a neighbor without any questions.

Image caption UN representatives offered Syrian refugees to go to Belarus

More than a year ago, Belarus accepted three Syrian families as refugees - 14 people, according to official reports.

Life, however, has already corrected the numbers: the family of Mohamed Chiku and Jalila Alusau is waiting for replenishment.

A girl from another Syrian family, one-year-old Aya, born already in Gomel, took her first steps on the day of my arrival in this second largest Belarusian city.

Belarus, a post-Soviet country with a population of less than 10 million, is experiencing demographic problems and, as President Alexander Lukashenko has repeatedly stated, is ready to increase the number of its inhabitants at the expense of migrants.

But in the days when Aya was still preparing to be born in Homel, in the nearby town of Zhlobin, President Lukashenko assured his people that he would not allow a massive influx of refugees from the Middle East for the sake of the security of Belarusians.

“They (the West - ed.) completely destabilized the Arab East and got what they wanted. Therefore, this is their problem, and let them deal with it,” Lukashenka explained to the workers of the local metallurgical plant. “We have enough influx from our Ukraine, a fraternal country. We already have about 150,000 of them (displaced persons from the conflict-affected areas of Donbass - ed.). God forbid we digest this."

President Lukashenko noted in that speech, however, that Belarus will not reject people who are in trouble.

"Almost a beautiful country"

"People in Belarus are very calm, friendly. My wife likes it here, she walks with her children without any fear. There is a mosque, the neighbors are good, no one said a bad word. The teachers Alisa Anatolyevna and Svetlana - I kinder people did not see! Everything is fine, only the salary is bad, there is not enough for the family, "- Imad Ahmad, the father of little Aya, hurries to Kelly's restaurant, where he works as a cook.

Image caption Popular restaurant in Gomel

A minute later, Imad admits: in this country, beautiful for his wife and children, he, in addition to his salary, still lacks rhythm, energy, "movement", as they say here.

The owner of a popular restaurant located in the center of Gomel, a native of Lebanon, Elias Sassin, allowed us to take a photo in the kitchen where the Syrian Imad works in an international company.

“One of us is Filipino, the girl is Belarusian. In the kitchen, English is heard more often than Russian, I don’t know Russian well, it’s good that the owner took me - we are almost countrymen,” says Imad.

On the similar work, he says, he has been working in the kitchen for more than 17 years, in Syria, in Lebanon, in Jordan.

“I cook everything from Arabic and Western cuisine, I master Russian dishes and already bake Belarusian potato pancakes,” Imad, apologizing, hurries to say goodbye: work!

Rights for Mohamed

Mohamed Chiku - the only one who initially agreed to speak with a BBC journalist and who persuaded his compatriot Imad to communicate - is still unemployed.

Image caption Driver license Mohamed issued in Syria

During the time allotted for the test according to the rules traffic, Mohamed barely manages to make out one of the series of printed questions, although he answers everything that is indicated by the drawings right away.

He learned Russian in Moscow, where his uncle took him to work as a driver at a young age.

“I went to Moscow, I went to Syria, I went to Libya - but I can’t here!” Mohamed is distressed.

He enrolled in Russian language courses at Gomel University named after Francysk Skaryna, but is ready to ask President Lukashenko himself for help.

In Gomel, Mohamed tries not to sit idle: he worked as a loader, registered as an individual entrepreneur to sell vegetables and fruits.

But the certificate of registration is still idle: money is needed to rent a kiosk, and a car and a driver are needed to deliver fruit.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is ready to purchase a truck for Mohamed as soon as he gets his license.

"I can work in a taxi or as a minibus driver, I can drive a truck - my Syrian license of category "D" is suitable for any type of transport. I need a job, because I will live here. Where else can I go next?" Mohamed says.

"Here I have already spent a year and a half. Still spend 2-3 years in Europe? Or all ten? Then I will be 40, then more. Why? It's normal to live here, only you need a job," he said.

Life

All three families of Syrian refugees live in a new house on Gomel's Mazurova Street.

Imad Ahmad and Safaa Mohamad have a three-room apartment on the ground floor, the family already has five children, including the little "Belarusian" Aya.

Mohamed, in whose family there are two boys and are waiting for a third, has a two-room apartment on the topmost, tenth floor in the next entrance.

Image caption This house, where families from Syria live, is regularly visited by employees of the Belarusian office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Apartments for Syrian refugees are provided by the Belarusian authorities on an indefinite lease, the families pay for utilities themselves.

Mohamed insists that after the journey to early hour I have to share breakfast with his family. While his wife Jalila is busy in the kitchen, the head of the family remarks as casually as possible: "We somehow ran out of meat, but it will be delicious - try it!"

A dish of beans with tomatoes and herbs, seasoned with a thick garlic sauce, is really tasty and satisfying. On the table - soft curd cheese, bought at the local market, but seasoned with Jalila, an omelet with mushrooms, slices of tomato and cucumber.

In both families, they treat me to the most delicious - "real Arabic!" - coffee and invite you to come in for lunch, relax from the road, come again. Hospitality and respect for the guest of these people, in my opinion, know no bounds.

Looking around, I notice: the apartments are equipped with the same type of furniture, there are no usual Belarusian family accumulated over the years vases, candy bowls, knick-knacks.

Image caption Apartments furnished with state-of-the-art

"Treasury" - provided by the Belarusian authorities along with housing, the furnishings include, however, the necessary things: a plasma TV, a modern washing machine, a set of kitchen furniture, beds, a wardrobe.

High on the closet, so that the silly youngsters would not get it, are handicrafts made by Imad's daughter, Zainab, in school circles.

Image caption Adults, with the exception of Imad, asked not to take pictures of them, but allowed to take pictures of children, whose successes they are proud of.

The girl moved to the second grade of a general education Belarusian school (she had studied Russian a year before) and now, in addition to skillful hands, she has excellent grades in mathematics and alphabet. He writes very beautifully.

Zainab and two other older children in this family are preparing for exams in an art school, parents tell me, repeatedly emphasizing that the Gomel comprehensive school No. 59, where children study - well, the most magnificent not only in the whole city, but in the whole world.

Later, on the street, Imad will tell me that in order to acquire the necessary academic year Yes, plus for warm clothes for the upcoming autumn-winter, the family needs at least 15 Belarusian million - approximately 750 dollars. Where to get?

Budget

In Mohamed's family, the third, unborn child will add money - the Belarusian authorities pay the allowance for caring for a child up to three years old regularly, every month.

So far, for the two younger ones, Akhmed and Khamza, the family receives three Belarusian millions with a "tail" - a little more than $150. (Syrian refugees, like most Belarusians, are not yet accustomed to counting in rubles denominated; however, the division of the amount by 10,000 proposed by the Belarusian denomination has practically no effect on the results in dollars).

He left and that's it. You can go to Europe, but not to the Arab East. Why is that? Imad

Another $150 is added to the budget of Mohamed's family by UNHCR through its partner organization International Red Cross. According to the same scheme - UNHCR through the Red Cross - Mohamed Chiku's current classes at a driving school are paid.

Payment for the kindergarten for the two sons of Mohamed and Jalila is another 20-25 dollars at a minimum (the younger Ahmed still goes to the garden for a couple of hours, he gets used to it). Expenses for kindergarten, however, through the Red Cross in recent times compensated by UNHCR.

Now subtract $100-$125 of these unavoidable expenses from the amount of allowances and assistance from UNHCR - how much will you get?

In this family, indeed, for objective reasons, "meat has run out."

War and divided families

While cooking in the kitchen, Jalila, who is expecting her third child, informs me that she is older than her husband, and in general they are relatives.

I tuned in to hear a special love story, but Mohamed told it briefly: "So my mother decided."

"We have a wife and children - this is forever, no doubt," he explains to me.

His wife Jalila finished 5 classes in a Syrian school.

Mohamed, who was born in Syrian Kobani, did not study at all as a child - his father was in prison (“I don’t know why, I was small”), his mother and six children had no documents.

Everywhere you need to live and work decently. I hope everything goes well Mohamed

“We also had an apartment in Aleppo - we haven’t been there for a long time, they shoot there all the time, I don’t know what is there. There was a house in the village - it was practically destroyed,” he says.

Mohamed's younger brother - a soldier of the Syrian government forces - died.

Mohamed shows me a photo from his phone, noticing that he did not have a chance to bury his brother.

Another photo - father in Syria, in hospital ward. Mohamed explains that his father had a bad heart, but how he is now is unknown, there has been no contact with him for several months.

Mohamed's mother and sisters are in Turkey, their mother's brother sheltered them. Mohamed managed to transport his family to Lebanon.

The neighbor in the Belarusian house, the cook Imad, is from the Syrian Dara. The house of his parents, who remain in Syria, is half destroyed.

"They're bombing," Imad tries to explain. "They smashed the windows and doors. They make repairs, but then the planes fly again, and there are no windows and doors."

Imad Safaa's wife worries about her sick mother who has settled in Jordan - they haven't seen each other for six years. But for refugees from Arab countries, visas to Arab countries give very rarely, say my interlocutors.

“I left and that’s it. You can go to Europe, but not to the Arab East. Why is that?” Imad is indignant.

About future

Talking about their experiences, my interlocutors from Syrian families are very actively talking about the future - they have children.

Both Imad and Mohamed really want their children to study, go to universities, and become doctors.

All Syrians who moved to Belarus are Kurds. They do not want to understand the current Syrian political nuances.

"Everyone who met me with weapons in Syria are bandits," said Mohamed, who himself served two and a half years in the Syrian army. "They think they are politicians, but I think they are bandits."

Mohamed hopes to obtain citizenship in the country that hosted his family after the expiration of the period set by Belarusian law.

“We wrote when we were in Lebanon that we wanted to go to Europe. The UN representatives said that there is a place in Belarus. I decided: let’s go and try. Everywhere you need to live and work decently. I hope everything will be fine,” says Mohamed .

Belarus.

Alexander Lukashenko has signed a new agreement with the EU. Belarus will build camps for immigrants who fled to the West - Syrians, Chechens and Ukrainians. Brussels will have to pay a modest sum of €7,000,000 for their accommodation. The refugee camps will have a capacity of 10,000 people and will likely be located between the Gomel and Mogilev regions.

The EU in the next three years will pay 7 million euros for the construction of several camps in Belarus for illegal immigrants. This agreement in the EU is called the “Treaty with the Belarusian dictator”, as the German newspaper Tageszeitung said on Friday, referring to the documents of the European Commission.

Any future camps will only accommodate 30-50 people. The conditions of stay in the camps will meet the best European and international standards. There should be separate blocks for women, families. There should be provision of psychological and medical assistance.

Camps will be open and closed, where refugees will be waiting for extradition from Belarus or until they leave the country voluntarily. These camps will be divided into three types - for refugees from Ukraine, Syria and Russians trying to get to the EU countries in search of work on economic reasons. According to the German newspaper, Chechen refugees may be the first in this category.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus confirmed this agreement, specifying that €7,000,000 will be allocated to address the problem of counteracting illegal migration, modernizing immigrant camps. They will not accept refugees from the EU under the immigrant resettlement program.

“This is a joint project of the Belarusian side with representatives of the International Organization for Migration in the Republic of Belarus, which will be implemented as part of a joint program.”

According to Tageszeitung, EU-Belarus negotiations have already been completed and three migration agreements have been made.
As President Lukashenko wrote to Vzglyad this week, he introduced a visa-free regime for 80 countries, including the US and the EU. In Minsk, they noted that the move is aimed at mobilizing travel for businessmen, tourists and those with passports, and not for foreigners undertaking official travel.

Yaroslav Romanchuk, head of the Mises research center, is not happy that in the midst of the migration crisis in the EU, Lukashenka added his support.

According to Romanchuk, 10,000 refugees could be accommodated in abandoned houses in the Gomel and Mogilev regions. If this program for the construction of refugee camps is implemented, then this can be considered another victory for Alexander Lukashenko, reports http: // site.

The authorities of Belarus have agreed to the construction of a number of centers for the placement of migrants - small refugee camps - on the territory of the country. Information about this RT was confirmed by the European Commission. In these camps, in particular, those refugees who were refused by the migration authorities should be kept until deportation Western countries. In exchange for such cooperation, Belarus will receive a significant visa facilitation with the EU, as well as a number of other political and economic benefits.

Not allowed into the EU

Belarus will start accepting refugees from Europe. This information was confirmed by RT at the headquarters of the European Union. The details of the agreement between Minsk and Brussels were previously published by the German newspaper Die Tageszeitung. According to its journalist Christian Jakob, some European Commission documents marked “For internal use” fell into his hands. We are talking about an agreement with Minsk that a whole line small centers on accommodation of migrants (Migrants Accomodation Centers), each of which will be able to accept from 30 to 50 people.

As follows from the document, these will be two types of centers united in a network - open and closed.

Refugees who have been denied access to any kind of European country and who must return to their homeland - voluntarily or through the deportation procedure.

How many such centers are supposed to be built on the territory of Belarus is unknown. But the article named the amount that the European Union is ready to allocate for this project- €7 million. Die Tageszeitung also indicates that direct funding will come from the European Neighborhood Program (ENI) from 2017 to 2020. The International Organization for Migration will have to take over the direct management of the project.

In addition, it is stipulated that the centers for migrants - in the case of their construction - will have to "meet the best EU and international standards." There, in particular, there are isolated sections for women, girls and families. Also, the centers will provide psychological and medical assistance - as the newspaper writes, now migrants entering Belarus do not receive this.

Finally, Die Tageszeitung gives an answer to main question: what kind of migrants will be placed in camps on the territory of Belarus? According to the newspaper, we are talking about refugees from Syria, Ukraine and Russia - either those who were stopped at the EU border, or those for whom a decision was made to deport. That is, the Belarusian centers will turn out to be a kind of "sump" for migrants doomed to return to their homeland.

As an example of migrants who are not allowed into the European Union, Christian Jakob names refugees from the southern regions of Russia, in particular from Chechnya.

What will Minsk get

Of course, in exchange for its agreement to accommodate "problem" migrants, Belarus will receive significant bonuses from the European Union. We are talking about three agreements between Minsk and Brussels. The first provides for a significant simplification of the visa regime for citizens of Belarus - this is what official Minsk has been actively seeking for the past two years. Interestingly, at the same time, Belarus is the world leader in the number of Schengen visas issued: according to the European Commission, in 2014 they were issued 880 thousand, in 2015 - 753 thousand, statistics for 2016 have not yet been made public. The second agreement should regulate the so-called mobile partnership - a simplified procedure for issuing work and student visas for Belarusians. And finally, the third agreement implies that Belarus assumes readmission obligations - that is, it will have to take back refugees who entered the European Union through its territory.

As RT was told in the European Service foreign policy, The EU does not finance and is not going to finance closed refugee detention centers in Belarus: “The EU is supporting Belarus in the fight against the increase in the number of illegal migrants as part of a comprehensive migration support program worth €7 million (based on the European Neighborhood Programme). The purpose of the project is to assist the government of the Republic of Belarus in the development and implementation of a management strategy illegal migration in accordance with international laws and standards in the field of migration. In addition, the project will finance the construction and/or renovation of several temporary centers for migrants. The project will be implemented in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration.”

It is worth noting that quite recently - on January 10 - the head of the Main Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Igor Fisenko, said that the Belarusian side could not accept the EU requirement for readmission due to the lack of infrastructure for receiving and accommodating a significant number of refugees. It is clear that the construction of a network of temporary accommodation centers at the expense of the EU this problem decide fundamentally.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry confirmed plans to build migrant accommodation centers with EU money. Dmitry Mironchik, head of the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, explained: “We are talking about a joint project with the international organization on migration in the Republic of Belarus, which is being implemented as part of the Partnership for Mobility project.

At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the republic stipulated that these centers were not intended for Russian citizens who tried to enter the European Union through Belarus. It is impossible to send Russians there because they are citizens Union State Belarus and Russia. According to the head of the Department of Citizenship and Migration, Alexei Begun, we are talking exclusively about illegal immigrants. That is, about people who not only illegally entered Belarus, but also try to get into the European Union through it in the same way.

Pros and cons

RT experts evaluate the project differently. Someone sees in such an agreement a benefit for Belarus.

“This news, in principle, fits into the scheme of normalization of relations with the European Union. In this situation, Belarus will seriously improve relations with European partners, while such fundamental issues as the death penalty and free elections will be relegated to the background, - Viktor Yevmenenko, an expert at the Belarus Security Blog analytical project, told RT. - European politicians will report to their voters that they are successfully solving the problem of immigrants. Yes and serious problems for our national security the placement of refugees does not carry - of course, if there are not a critically large number of them. In our country, migration legislation is quite severe and its implementation is monitored strictly, sometimes even too much. Certainly, individual local conflicts with the local population will be where the open settlements will be located, but in general, I think the situation will be under control. And the money will not be superfluous, especially considering that this will create additional jobs.”

However, there are doubts that such a scenario is possible from a legal point of view. “The European Union has long been experiencing problems with refugees. In the 2000s, Brussels had plans to place those who arrived in camps on the territory of the new EU members, Belarusian political scientist Sergei Martselev comments for RT. - First of all in Poland and the Baltic States. Nothing came of it. The proposed concept contradicts international law. If a refugee, bypassing third countries, ended up in one of the EU states, he should stay there, and not in Belarus, which is not part of the European Union. Only in this way, and not otherwise.