minsk and then pushing them to the border— minsk and then pushing them to the border with— minsk and then pushing them to the border with the _ minsk and then pushing them to the border with the eu _ minsk and then pushing them to the border with the eu with _ minsk and then pushing them to the border with the eu with the - border with the eu with the complexity of _ border with the eu with the complexity of airline - border with the eu with the - complexity of airline companies. and the eu _ complexity of airline companies. and the eu now— complexity of airline companies. and the eu now is — complexity of airline companies. and the eu now is doing _ complexity of airline companies. and the eu now is doing something - complexity of airline companies. and the eu now is doing something and l the eu now is doing something and can do— the eu now is doing something and can do something. _ the eu now is doing something and can do something. so— the eu now is doing something and can do something. so there - the eu now is doing something and can do something. so there will. the eu no

. >> the european union is considering sanctions against airlines transporting migrants to minsk. one is aeroflot. here is the kremlin on that. >> such hopes of possible sanctions, let's consider such crazy ideas hoaxes. we have seen the statement by the company that it does not provide migrants trafficking. moreover, even if some flight companies do that, it does not violate any norms of international law. >> this is the scene in minsk. these are large groups of migrants waiting for taxis to take them to the polish border. >> we saw large groups of migrants gathering here today in the center of minsk waiting for transportation to the polish border. they want to go to europe. they want to cross into poland but they do not want to stay in poland. they want to go further into europe. they mentioned the u.k., france, the netherlands. many of them have said they have relatives in europe. it is not clear what fate awaits them when they get to the border , because we know there are several thousand migrants stuck on the belarusian side of the border. trying to cross. polish forces not l

is that basically this will back foreign minsk? well, it actually makes bill or was a singular loser in the situation because 1st of all, there is little chance to put it mildly that the european union is going to soften the sanctions regime. that it introduced the guest bill that it was following last year's force for the elections. and so if means care, then you doubts about that the last few months as this migrant crisis has preceded these though, it's kind of reverberated. in fact, the, for anything, the european union or specific european union countries are likely to introduce even crusher sanctions against the misc. at the same time, ah, and so the question arises, is this is the economic and political damage wars. the information campaign that bill says, waging the up again, the campaign that's, that's a question for the bill. russian authorities to answer. but there is another interesting winner in this situation. and that's in the way russia because as the economic for shows of billows, decline because of man's position t

this is all a consequence of factious taken by the regime in minsk. let me bring in the honor again off this question. is it rarely a win for countries like poland? if lucas shank has weakened but at the expense or the benefit of countries like russia, that much comfort and walsall oh, well yeah. one me as well. and i just like to comment a on the previous thing for me from russell. and i said, well, i think that this issue should be completely unbelievable. you know, because a way to the other piece, you know, we are protecting our bo this and that should be b point number one in a little jump in and tell you what a lot of human rights groups are saying, you know, a couple of 1000, mostly women and children aren't exactly a huge security threat to the continent of europe. all they, yes. wow. i mean, they could be a, you know, humane way to deal with this. even if you know was hold, doesn't want to have to deal with people being shipped in special poll. we are, we are dealing with those people and we want to help them. and this is their responsibility

russia sent embalmers, minsk -- embalmers -- bombers, minsk denies. artifacts handed back on african soil. they wer taken in 1892, and have been returned. trump's bid to block access refused, trying to invoke presidential privilege on documents related to the child and you where he six capital right -- january 6 capital right. this is life in paris. -- capitol riot. this is live in paris. ♪ thank you for being with us. 4000 refugees are sleeping rough in freezing temperatures on the belarus-poland border, fast becoming an international situation. france and the you considering sanctions, accusing belarus of waving migrants over the border into eu, an accusation of russian involvement, denied by moscow. we are following the story and our correspondent joins us live. reporter: rights groups are from the middle east with these migrants, hoping to get into the you, but this is becoming a flashpoint between europe and belarus, and russia. reporter: first sure. in some ways, this is an immediate crisis between belarus and poland, but is much larger than t

the bbc�*s will vernon is in minsk, with more on this story. we saw large groups of migrants gathering here today in the centre of minsk, waiting for transportation to the polish border. the vast majority we spoke to were from iraq and they said they have been so these package deals between $3,000 and $4000 and these package deals included a belarusian visa and flights, tickets to minsk and there are going to go through turkey, syria and they said that once they got here, they were told that they could make their way to europe and the border would be open and the board would be unguarded. they are aware of the difficulties they might face at the polish border but these people, they say they are desperate, and they cannot stay in belarus and are not allowed to go back to their home countries and so, many of them was saying that they have no choice. it is bitterly cold, especially at night and many were not prepared for the winter and did not have appropriate clothing and many with small children but there was a real sense of hopelessness amongst

the first repatriation flight left minsk with more than 400 on board. the flight touched down at irbil international airport, where most of the passengers disembarked. most are thought to be iraqi kurds, some are from elsewhere in iraq as well. the plane's next stop, baghdad, where the few remaining passengers are headed. murad shishani is there. the repatriated iraqis�* flight has arrived to irbil international, people just coming back from belarus—poland borders. these planes, carrying 430 people, those just arrived today here in iraq, in irbil international airport. some of them also will be carrying on here to baghdad. we heard that there are onlyjust nine people who will be arriving to baghdad. the thing is, the story is evolving in kurdistan, in the regional kurdistan, iraq parts, this relatively stable place here in iraq, even though the biggest majority of those people who have been migrated or trying to migrate towards european union through belarus, lithuania and baltic countries were just from that region. and that comes as a surprise, ac

-- minsk? many mention ackaue there? -- minsk? many mention package deals. _ there? -- minsk? many mention package deals, the _ there? -- minsk? many mention package deals, the vast - there? -- minsk? many mention package deals, the vast majority\ there? -- minsk? many mention i package deals, the vast majority we spoke to were from a rask —— erect, they were sold a package deal for $3— they were sold a package deal for $3- 400, they were sold a package deal for $3— 400, they mentioned they were going through turkey, going through syria, and they said that once they got here they were told that they can make their way to europe and the border would be open and on guarded dash unguarded. in border would be open and on guarded dash unguarded.— dash unguarded. in the last couple da s, dash unguarded. in the last couple days. we've _ dash unguarded. in the last couple days, we've been _ dash unguarded. in the last couple days, we've been hearing - dash unguarded. in the last couple days,

russia sent embalmers, minsk -- embalmers -- bombers, minsk denies. artifacts handed back on african soil. they wer taken in 1892, and have been returned.

will vernon reports now from minsk. we saw large groups of migrants gathering here today in the centre of minsk, waiting for transportation to the polish border. the vast majority we spoke to were from iraq and they said that they had been sold these package deals for between $3,000 and $4,000 and they said those package deals included a belarusian visa and flights, tickets to minsk. they mentioned they were going through turkey, going through syria, and they said that once they got here, they were told that they could make their way to europe and that the border would be open and the boarder would be unguarded. they're aware of the difficulties that they might face at the polish border, but these people, they say, are desperate, they say that they can't stay in belarus. none of them want to stay here and they say they can't to go back to their home countries and so, many of them were saying we have no choice. it is bitterly cold here now, it's very cold especially at night. many of them were not prepared for the winter

the iraqi government chartered a repast creation flight from minced -- a repatriation flight from minsk airport. but many want to stay. the west is pushing hard for a solution to the crisis. now, alexander lukashenko has proposed a response. >> the mechanism proposed by president lukashenko during the first conversation with angela merkel was the following. the european union would create a humanitarian corridor for 2000 migrants in the camp. we would commit ourselves to help another 5000 migrants to return home. >> aerial footage shows belarus has already broken up the large migrant camps along the border with poland. people have been moved to a large heated warehouse. conditions here are extremely crowded, and many are worried what will happen to them next. >> no one is taking responsibility for us. we all spent a lot of money and don't want to go back to iraq. no one has taken a step forward to move us to another european country or provide us with a better camp. >> some migrants continue to camp at the border, still hoping that somehow they will make it across and enter a new future

minsk airport a no-fly zone. countries like iraq and turkey have been banning people from flying to belarus and some airlines have stopped flying altogether. this hasn't stopped people from trying to make the trip that is increasingly taking lives, like those of two young kurdish men from iraq who died of illnesses trying to read europe. for their families, there will at least be a funeral back home. off med -- for akhmed, family members can only watch the ceremony back home. >> [translated] there is a muslim cemetery here, so it is the right thing to do. hopefully the family will come one day looking for the grave and local people will show them the way. reporter: a life cut short on a journey driven by hope and determination, a determination that won't stop others trying to complete the journey that akhmed could not. >> the belarusian defense minister has told al jazeera they are not engineering the situation. >> [translated] refugees arrived in belarus legally and see there is a possibility to cross to europe.

brent: you say the blame remains on minsk. yet we have heard that the leader of belarus, lukashenko, had a phone call with german chancellor angela merkel yesterday. did that conversation raise a few eyebrows in the european union? guest: it did. angela merkel did tell the e.u. leaders that she was going to make this call so, he did not come as a surprise, they did not find out about it in the headlines. some estonian politicians said this was the wrong way to handle this. no e.u. leader has spoken with lukashenko since august 2020, since the disputed elections when the e.u. agreed that lukashenko had stolen the opposion, thate was not legitimate leader. no one else has bestowed legitimacy upon him of giving, him a phone call, until angela merkel. so people are willing to see if any good comes out of this call. but there are people who think that no one on this side of that order should be speaking with alexander lukashenko. brent: it is interesting that the german chancellor spoke with lukashenko when this crisis was erupting

some have abandoned their attempt to enter the eu, heading to minsk. they will board a flight heading to baghdad. in the northern iraqi city, most of the passengers were from the region near the border with turkey. many had been stranded at the poland belarus order for more than a week before giving up on reaching the eu. reporting from the airport. >> as they arrive you can see exhaustion in their faces. while some are glad to be home, others so they will return. >> i'm going back, i'm ready to try 100 times again. next summer i intended to go. >> they released a statement blaming people for smuggling iraqis into belarus. it is to crackdown. they have arrested 10 members of the criminal smuggling gang in the last 10 days. some turning thursday described a horrific experience. >> the situation is so bad, smugglers are using people. i have seen people dying before my eyes. i will not try to travel again. i will not go. >> a lot of these people have sold everything they own to get to europe. they are likely to come back to less than they had before. the

michael: many thanks to nick connolly in minsk. the wta says it remains concerned about the welfare of chinese tennis star peng shuai. she disappeared from public view after accusing a senior politician of sexual assault. on sunday, the international olympic committee said peng was safe and well after, a video call with the olympiad. but the wta and women's rights groups remain unconvinced. reporter: this is what china is presenting as proof that she is safe and well. a public appearance, supposedly added tennis tournament in beijing on sunday. the international olympic committee backs up this version of events, after a 30 minute video call with peng. the ioc said she was at home and wanted her privacy to be respted. but rights groups are not convinced. >> the international olympic committee is entering dangerous quarters. they should be extremely careful not to participate in a itewash of possible human rights violations. reporter: what the ioc did not mention is that peng has made sexual assault allegations against a politician.

shut down a major oil pipeline which runs from russia to poland and then on to other you countries, minsk sites on schedule maintenance. adding that the stoppage would last 3 days. it's led to claims from europe that the move is no coincidence considering the situation that's currently on falling on the concrete border. i asked our correspondent ilia, per tranquil about that this is actually the number one intrigue. whether there are any links between this closure of the operations in this throws war friendship pipeline. what i want to make clear though is that we're talking about an oil pipeline and also earlier warnings by the, by russian president, alexander lucas angle, about the potential shut down of a gas pipeline. well, technically there aren't because immense curb is saying that's the reason for this is just that something needs to be fixed. and this is something that's only gonna last for 3 days. more importantly, we're talking about completely different transit routes, completely different pipelines and different kind of commodities being supplied all in the one hand and gas on

we also heard from the top diplomats that all the proposals that were coming from minsk for a talks have been completely ignored by european countries. instead, according to the allies, minsk continues to receive threats of further isolation and more punishment and the form of sanctions. now i asked the foreign ministers what they make of the way some senior polish officials and commentators began drawing parallels between what's happening at the water right now with the beginning of world war 2. that was back in 1939, some of the darkest days. and polish history, and this was the response by sir you love, rob, virginia, and political discussions. the west is increasingly reverting to historical examples in parallel to what they always cherry pick the information if poland says the situation resembles 1939, then why did they not remember? 1938 when czechoslovakia was torn apart. for example, the oven. those such parallels are absolutely inappropriately william and reflect and inadequacy the logical people saying zealous. it only means that the so called young europeans continue to pull e

they arrive from different cities, minsk, grodner, and breast. they agreed on the date and place using the telegram messenger app. it's now evenings and they're even more migrant. they're constantly arriving the campus set up really close to the border. some of the tents are set up right next to polish territory. on the pony side, there are a lot of police, military, personnel, and equipment. they also brought water cannon, the migrant say they will stay here until they get to poland. they've let bonfires set up, 10 brought food with them, but not a lot. all of them have warm clothes with them. we also see here a lot of families with small children, children aged to 3 years old, summer even younger. all of them are determined to stay here. today. they'll stay here for the night of correspond. peter oliver has more details on the escalating border situation. in fact, the polish president under a do there is currently in a meeting with the prime minister in my parish motivates and security leaders as well and emergency meeting being cold as things

our airline does not operate regular flights. iraq, syria of, from istanbul to minsk. we're also not conducting charter flight to those destinations, the transit over rainy and iraqi and syrian nationals through russia and roots. barriers is hindered by the requirements that they obtain a russian visa. and one of his latest comments the russian foreign minister survey live. rob also said that the claims on the part of the polish government, that air flawed is involved in the border migrant crisis, are false. now, all this falls reports that the european countries could be mulling sanctions against all the air flawed but also against the turkish airlines. as part of the newest round of sanctions against ment. now you may wonder if these are anti bella, russian sanctions. what does air flawed a russian airline or turkish airlines the turkish carrier have to do with all that? well, this is how serious and unprecedented this can all get. we'll have to see where this goes. but i can already tell you that air force has already said that they are ready to go to court, to prot

instead though, according to the allies, minsk has received of further threats for isolation, and also punishment in the form of sanctions. now, i asked survey, lab rav in particular about the parallels that have been made by some senior officials in poland. and also some commentators, they drew parallels between what's happening at the border right now and also the beginning of world war 2, back in 1939, some of the dark, his days, and polish history. and this is what the surgeon lab rob's response was. the gc in political discussions, the west is increasingly reverting to historical examples in parallel speech, but they always cherry pick the information if poland says the situation resembles 1939, then why did they not remember? 1938 when czechoslovakia was torn apart. for example, the other such perilous are absolutely inappropriately reflecting and inadequacy in the logic of these people school. it only means that the so called young europeans continue to pull europe towards escalating confrontations with both belarus and russia. i hold that responsible europeans do not allow them

how many more is the negotiation between minsk and baghdad? but perhaps the real negotiation is exactly how many iraqis will want to get on those flights. around con, i'll desert a real and he says it's moved. hundreds of people still at the border with poland to nearby warehouses, but many remain in limbo. as i said, beg reports from near the border with parent stranded cold and living in miserable conditions. these people on the belly, russian side of the border with poland. and now getting some help, but it's far from what they want and need by the rooster, how some in a makeshift shelter, a warehouse with beds, blankets and food. but still they tried to cross. oh yeah. this footage, released by polish authorities, shows people detained as they crossed the border ah, me on the dublin again. supposed have yells, cable up into to them. there were $501.00 attempts of the legal border crossings from belarus in the last 24 hours. limit of this means the total number of such attempts in november exceeds 6000 her. 1 c but the russian forces also r

it's true, it's territory don't belong to minsk, has russia responded to developments? well, 1st of all, if we're talking about the dubois oil pipeline, which is used for all deliveries from the oil fields and central russia to countries such as poland, hungary, the czech republic, germany, the russian side for now is rather call because they're saying that if it's only for 3 days, that is not going to affect the total quantity of supplies in a month. so with that there. okay. but actually latimer potent who often supports alexander lucas shingo. and we know that borrows from russia are close allies when mister putin heard about this threat from the bell, russian president of a potential closures of the gas pipeline. he was rather critical about it. here's what exactly you said. we'll move to ensure theoretically, alexander lucas, chicago can shut down the gas pipeline as the president of a transit country. he can probably give an order to cut off our supplies to europe . although this would be a violation of our transit contract. i hope it doesn't come to this. if it h

in the standoff, minsk accused of weaponizing migrants by encouraging them to come to belarus and then move on to the european union. >> escorted by belarusian soldiers, hundreds of migrants step away from the polish border. they were then taken by buses to unknown locations. according to officials, it is a sign that belarus'ler is keen to show he is willing to diffuse tensions with the european union, but some 2000 people are staying at the border even after their camp was closed. >> [speaking foreign language] >> the move came a day after fresh skirmishes broke out between the migrants and polish security forces. the refugees, most fleeing conflict and despair in the middle east, have not given up hope of reaching western europe. people rejoice the news that belarus and the eu had agreed to hold talks following another phone call between president lukashenko and germany's angela merkel. while minsk presented it as a diplomatic through, brussels insisted the talks would focus on humanitarian aid and support for migrants. western diplomats have accused lukashenko of using the migrants

both moscow and minsk deny they are orchestrating the crisis. from the border here's our europe correspondent nick beake. 0n the edge of the european union, a new, desperate migrant camp hasjust emerged. 0n the left, those who have come to belarus and now made their way to the border with poland. 0n the right, barbed wire and lines of troops stopping them from crossing. throughout the day we watched dozens of reinforcements race to this area. poland already has a force of 12,000 guarding its eastern border and is keeping aid agencies and journalists away. but we managed to make contact with some of those now trapped in the freezing forest. we feel bad because nobody else is here and we are so hungry and thirsty, no water, no food, no help. like most here, aziz is kurdish, and from iraq. so many families and little children who are here. poland has vowed to defend its — and the eu's — borders, and accuses belarus of using civilians as weapons in retaliation for sanctions. translation: we know that this is a fully planned operation - which aim

but comes at a time of height and tensions between minsk and brussels. a shop divide emerges over ponens tactics with france, sliding plans for a massive wool to build on the border. we look at the top line being taken against people crossing from belarus, law migrant boats. so fully crossing the mediterranean and when every minute matters in england, people's lives being put in danger. roommate delays and delivering emergency health . we're here from a man whose mother passed away off to an ambulance failed to arrive on time. potentially, you know this, her death? devine should been saved if the ambulance arrived sooner, that doctor attended as soon as possible. aah! o one from oscar. thanks for joining us. an international and daniel hawkins, wherever you are tonight, to welcome to the program. the batteries has shut down a major oil pipeline which runs from russia to poland and on to other e u countries. minsk sites on scheduled maintenance, adding the stoppage would last 3 days. so that's a claims from europe, the movies. no coincidence. considering

have also put out a statement saying that minsk and alexander lucas shanker, the, the bell, russian president, a, using these migrant says what they call it a hybrid tactic. in or in response to sanctions that have already been placed on beller roost, they add the nato alliance going on to say that they found this unacceptable. now, the german foreign ministry did previously put out a statement in which they said they have pro, that alexander lucas shanker is directly linked to driving migrants towards this border. the situation continues to be of utmost concern to us. we observe how the lucas shanker regime continues to call migrants to belarus and send them on a dangerous journey towards the e you. there is evidence that the regime in minsk constantly directs people to the border on the beller as president denies any involvements in pushing people towards the boundary with poland dwarfs. alexander lucas shanker has said is that his country can't afford to look after migrants that are there saying that the sanctions that have been put in place on beller is already by the european union of cr

it is targeting airlines it says are trafficking migrants to the belarusian capital, minsk. and migrants are heading from that city to the border with poland. the european union is saying this. >> from now on, we will be able to sanction all pple according with their activities and the organization of these people from several countries going to belarus and from there to the european union. at the same time, we have agreed to an adoption of a new package of sanctions which will be finalized in the coming days. >> the pressure point in the story is the border between poland and belarus. thousands of migrant most of them from the middle east, have been stuck in freezing conditions, and at least eight have died from hypothermia. the situation escalated earlier when hundreds of migrants moved toward one particular border crossing. police, water cannons and razor wire reduced to stop people coming across the border. steve rosenberg was with them as they reach this border crossing. >> in the migrant camp, word had got out. they've been told this was the moment to make it into the.

they said the package deals included a belarusian visa and flights, tickets to minsk. they mentioned they were going through turkey, going through syria, and said once i got here th were told they could make their way to europe, that the border woulde open and unguarded. they are aware of the difficulties they might face at the polish border, but these people they say are desperate and say they cannot stay in belarus. none of them want to stay here and say they cannot go back to their home country. many were saying that we have no choice. it is bitterly cold, especially at night. many of them were not prepare for the winter and did not have appropriate clothing. many of them with small children. there was a real sense of hopelessness, and they still feel that even going and attempting what may seem like a hopeless endeavor is still better than the alternative. laura: let's go to glasgow where the climate change summit is entering its final hours. officials are desperately trying to hammer out a deal to keep the rise in the average global temperature to 1.5 degrees cels

minsk after being granted visas. migrants were taken to the borders and told they cannot go back to the belarusian capital. >> me and all my friends. >> the eu says belarus is weaponizing migrants in revenge for sanctions. president lukashenko denies this, but i former belarusian diplomat told france 24 this is >> ok, if you impose sanctionsd. on me, then i will impose a blind eye on the border. >> seems like this do not reflect well on the eu, but as winter approhes, the polish government says is it's preparing for the crisis to stretch on for months. -- says it is preparing for the crisis to stretch on for months. mark: as we speak, a reminder some 4000 are bedding down for the night in what are set to be subzero temperatures. just consider that as other people consider the diplomatic elements of the story. time now to turn our eye to business. business means one person -- kate moody. good evening to you. great to see you. germany suspended the certification process of a controversial gas pipeline. >> it is the con

accuses belarus of flying migrants into minsk. belarus denies this blaming poland for escalatinghe crisis and using excesve force to push back migrants. belarusan leader says he does not want an armed confrontation, but nor will he back down. we know our place but we ll not kneel. poland has declared a state of emergency alonged border. journalists and humanitarian groups are barred from the area. on the other side, only belarus state aligned media has access. the mignts have mainly come from the middle east, many fleeing war or poverty. ey want to head further west for a better future in europe. human rights activists say food and medicine are in short supply and temperatures are dipping below freezing, a humanitarian crisis unfolding as the threat of conflict rises. brent: our correspondent is near the border between poland and belarus tonight. it's good to see you. we know there is the state of emergency declared that places have a lot of restrictions on reporters. tell us exactly where are you right now and what do you see? >>

they gave up and returned to minsk. residents -- relatives are still in the forest the less they heard. >> we lost touch with my brothers 10 days ago. maybe their phones are out of battery, but thecould be dead. they have no clue where we are, whether we a here oreturned to iraq. the people smugglers told us it would only take two or three hours to cross the border toward germany. we had no idea what it would be like. we borrowed money from everyone to come here, to get treatment for our family. now that money is gone and we have not made it. >> a return to iraq is not something many people here are ready to count out. some are considering applying for asylum in belarus. anything but a return to iraq. the belarusian regime did not envision this scenario. >> businessman and philanthropist must remain in jail as per trial proceeds. he has been in custody with out a conviction for four years and is accused of overthrowing the government, but critics say the charges are political. it has opened a rift between the west. a re

poland of escalating the crisis, but migrants say belarus and authorities won't let them return to minsk. >> desperate people been pushed back with water cannon and tear gas. stuck inside of the border, polish forces stopping them from crossing into the eu. it was only a matter of time these people faced with a lack of food, water, shelter and subzero temperatures, tried to push forward at the crossing. at the front are mainly young men, but many women and children are in the crowds behind. for those on the receiving end, it is a hypocritical rejection europe. al jazeera's reporter on the ground spoke with them. >> they are using pepper spray, water and teargas against children. is this the human rights of europe? temperatures are negative five. what can we do? where are they human rights organizations? they invaded iraq in 2003 and we have lost everything. we have sold our houses. they destroyed our country, now this is their human rights? >> we have not slept since yesterday. our feet are freezing. the only word we can hear is "attention." if they do not want to allow us, then return u

we don't know where they have gone to, whether it is other places on the border or to minsk. certainly, iraqi airways is sending a plaintiff belarus on thursday to repatriate -- a plane to belarus on thursday to repatriate migrants. we've seen there are diplomatic efforts stepping up, as you mentioned, with angela merkel calling the president of belarus for the second time in three days, urging belus to accept eu food, blankets, and more aid to the migrants that are still stranded on the border, with temperatures dropping as winter comes. it's already freezing. it's going to go below freezing soon. these are no conditions for anybody to be sleeping out in the open. ros: i've only a minute left on this half of the program, but does the government have public support behind its approach to this? >> generally speaking, the public does support them. it's a tough stance. the european union brought -- supports poland's stance not to allow these migrants into the european union. there's a lot of people in poland who want medics, ngo's, and other agencies, and journalists as well, to

it's targeting airlines it says are trafficking migrants to the belarusian capital, minsk. and we know migrants are heading from the city to the border with poland — which is in the eu. which is why the eu is saying this. we will be able to sanction more people according with their activities on the organization of these flights, of people from several countries going into the belarus and from there to the european union member states borders. and at the same time, we agreed to an adoption of a new package. it would be the fifth one, a new package on sanctions which will be finalized in the coming days. and belarus, which isn't. for the past week, thousands of migrants — most from the middle east — have been stuck in freezing conditions in make—shift tents. eight have died from hypothermia. the situation escalated earlier when hundreds of migrants moved towards a border crossing. polish police, water cannon and a razor wire fence are all there to stop people coming across. and poland accuses belarus of preventing them from moving back from the border. the bbc�*s s