Poland’s president has condemned the government’s contentious plan to suspend the right to asylum for irregular migrants, calling it a “fatal mistake.”

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s leader said Saturday that he plans to temporarily suspend the right to asylum as part of a new migration policy, pointing to its alleged abuse by eastern neighbor Belarus and Russia.

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday he would protect his country's eastern border, dismissing criticism that a plan to temporarily stop accepting asylum applications violated human rights.

Human and civil rights groups are expressing concern after Poland’s leader said he would suspend the right to asylum because of its alleged abuse by eastern neighbors Belarus and Russia

Poland has joined a growing list of EU member states tightening border controls to limit people claiming asylum, against EU and international refugee obligations.

Poland's president condemned a government plan to temporarily suspend the right to asylum on Wednesday, saying it would harm members of the Belarusian opposition fleeing repression in their own country.

By Wojciech Kosc in Poland The European Union told Poland on October 14 that its international legal obligations guaranteeing the right of asylum cannot be suspended to stop Russia and Belarus trying to sow chaos by pushing migrants over the border.