A recent incident at the German-Polish border near Guben, Brandenburg, has highlighted tensions surrounding border management and the involvement of civilian groups. According to reports, an attempt to return an 18-year-old Afghan national to Poland was initially unsuccessful due to the intervention of a self-proclaimed Polish “border defense” group.
The German Federal Police initially attempted to send the individual back across the city bridge in Guben. However, members of the “Movement for Border Defense” (“Ruch Obrony Granic”), a group often associated with right-wing ideology, reportedly pressured the Afghan national to return to Germany.
Following the initial setback, the German police contacted their Polish counterparts and requested assistance in receiving the young man. A Polish border guard patrol subsequently arrived on the Polish side. Despite the presence of the Polish patrol, the “border defense” group again directed the individual to turn back towards Germany.
German authorities then urged a change of strategy. However, sources suggest the Polish border guard commander refused to allow the Afghan to cross the bridge. Subsequently, the individual was redirected to Bad Muskau, approximately 60 kilometers away and transferred across the border into Poland. At this location, no “border defense” group or Polish border guards were present.
The German Federal Interior Ministry, responding to inquiries from the Spiegel magazine, stated that it does not typically comment on individual cases or the actions of other authorities.
