Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko

Lukashenko has been in power since 1994 and has been accused of authoritarianism, human rights violations, and suppressing opposition voices. He has also been accused of manipulating elections and using violence against protesters. In the context of the current crisis, Lukashenko has been accused of using migrants as a political weapon against the European Union in response to its sanctions against his regime. The Belarusian government has been accused of facilitating the entry of migrants, many of whom are from the Middle East, into Belarus from Russia, and then directing them toward the EU border.

In addition, Lukashenko's government has been criticized for its poor response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, Lukashenko dismissed the threat of the virus, calling it a "psychosis" and recommending vodka and saunas as a cure. He also refused to impose a lockdown and held large public events, including a military parade, despite warnings from health officials.

The crisis has also been exacerbated by Lukashenko's hostile rhetoric towards the EU and his willingness to use migrants as a bargaining chip. This has put significant pressure on Poland and other EU countries to find a solution to the crisis, while also trying to maintain the integrity of the EU's external borders.