Poland's Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz slammed the actions of military police leading to the detention of the soldiers earlier this year.
The servicemen had fired warning shots to deter illegal border crossers near Dubicze Cerkiewne, a village along the Polish-Belarusian border.
The incident, which has triggered an investigation by military authorities, raises questions about the balance between national security duties and legal boundaries.
Two of the detained soldiers faced accusations of exceeding their authority and potentially endangering lives, according to reports.
The move has been widely critiqued as an overreaction, with the defense minister arguing that the soldiers were performing their duties under challenging conditions.
Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized the need for clarity in such situations and cautioned against overly zealous actions that might undermine the soldiers' operational capabilities.
The incident at Dubicze Cerkiewne is part of a broader series of confrontations at the border, where Polish forces are often in tense standoffs with people attempting to cross the border illegally from the Belarusian side.
Just recently, another altercation resulted in a Polish soldier being stabbed, highlighting the volatile nature of the border security challenges. The soldier has since died.
The defense minister affirmed his support for the troops, underscoring their role in safeguarding the country's borders while adhering to legal and ethical standards.
Kosiniak-Kamysz's remarks reflect a critical view of the military police's handling of the situation, suggesting a possible reassessment of procedures and protocols when engaging with migrants at the border.
The situation demonstrates the broader geopolitical tensions between Poland and Belarus, especially in the management of migrant flows, which have been a point of contention for several years.
Poland has been critical of Belarus using the migrants as pawns in a hybrid warfare, a tactic designed to destabilize the region.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP