Belarus summoned Poland’s chargé d’affaires on Friday, restricted access to its territory for Polish trucks and announced the expulsion of a communications officer in protest at Warsaw’s decision to close an important crossing point, writes AFP.

Minsk condemned Poland’s decision to close the Bobrovniki crossing point, one of three, as “unilateral” and “inhumane” by the Chargé d’affaires of Poland, who was summoned to the Foreign Ministry.

In response, Polish trucks will be able to enter and leave Belarus only through the common border, and will no longer be able to pass through other checkpoints.

“All responsibility for the deterioration of the conditions in which it operates lies with the initiator of the restrictive measures, namely the current government of Poland,” the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said.

Minsk also promised to bring the staffing of the Polish consulate in Grodno to the level of the Belarusian consulate in Bialystok, foreshadowing the expulsion of diplomats.

“Also, Belarus does not see the need for the further presence of a liaison officer of the Polish border police on its territory,” the ministry added.

“Any destructive measures by the Polish government will not be ignored, and we reserve the right to take more serious measures in response,” he warned.

In response, Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski tweeted: “If the Belarusian authorities go ahead and apply the announced restrictions against Polish carriers, Poland will respond in kind to Belarusian carriers.”

Warsaw justified the closure of the Bobrovnika checkpoint by protecting “state security” at a time of rising tensions between the two neighbors.

The decision came a day after a Belarusian court sentenced Belarusian journalist Andrzej Pochobut, who belongs to the Polish minority, to eight years in prison for reporting critical of Minsk.

Belarus is Russia’s only European ally in its offensive against Ukraine. Poland is one of the main supporters of Kyiv.