Stateless, Rightless and Weaponized. The European Union's human rights contradictions in the EU-Belarus border crisis. Wesselink, 6151701

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the contradictory attitude of the European Union regarding the safeguarding of the human rights of migrants and refugees, specifically in the case of weaponized migration that was started by Belarussian President Aleksandr Lukashenko in 2021. Since many Middle Eastern migrants and refugees were neglected in the woods by Belarussian and Polish authorities, their rights were violated. However, the EU did not interfere, even though the institution is internationally obligated to comply with the safeguarding of the human rights of migrants and refugees. This shows one of the many contradictions that are a part of the EU’s ontology. This thesis analyses the history of the contradictions and violations that have taken place in the field of human rights of migrants and refugees. In addition to this, this thesis leads you through the pathways of the EU-Belarus conflict, by showing more contradictions in the EU’s attitude towards human rights in general and finally, this thesis argues that the EU’s goal in the EU-Belarus border crisis is to defeat Lukashenko rather than save people’s lives.