“Poles do not believe what Donald Tusk says and there is a real fear that if the Platform wins the elections, it will destroy everything PiS has built – it will dismantle the barrier on the border allowing migrants from Africa and Asia into Poland, and disband the military units created and rebuilt by the current government,” he tells the wPolityce.pl portal Michał Kuczmierowskichairman of the Government Agency of Strategic Reserves, candidate in 10th place on the PiS list in the 18th district of Siedlce-Ostrołęka.
wPolityce.pl: On Polsat Television you showed a statue of a Russian propaganda bear, which should be a reward for Agnieszka Holland.
For what? Why?
MICHAŁ KUCZMIEROWSKI, President of the Government Agency of Strategic Reserves, candidate for election from 10th place on the PiS list in the 18th district of Siedlce-Ostrołęka: Because this film does not deserve some festival “Golden Bear”, but only the “Russian Bear”! It must be said right away that Agnieszka Holland’s film pursues the objectives of Putin’s propaganda. The artists and creators of the film “The Green Border” became part of the Kremlin’s propaganda narrative. We are witnessing a hybrid operation against Poland by Russia and Belarus. These actions are aimed at destabilizing the situation in Poland and the region. The Polish government responded correctly to this crisis from the beginning, and today other countries are following our lead and starting to combat illegal migration.
The activities of the Polish services at the border are presented in the public space as if in a distorting mirror, mainly because they are operational activities that are kept secret. This is an extremely difficult and strenuous service, requiring professionalism and discipline. Officers and soldiers defending our border live under constant threat to their lives and health and must constantly consider the risk of provocation. Stones and metal bars are thrown at them and people try to blind them with lasers.
Artificially induced migration crisis? Is that what you think?
Yes, this is an action organized and carried out by the Belarusian and Russian special services. Worst of all, they use naive economic migrants who, encouraged by the vision of a life in a better world, try to enter the European Union illegally at any cost. The drama of these people is beyond dispute. But they are being cynically used by Russia and Belarus in a special operation against Poland.
Poland has proven that we are a very hospitable nation, sensitive to harm. Thanks to Russian aggression against Ukraine, we have helped millions of refugees. There is no problem entering Poland legally. However, we cannot agree to anyone breaking our rules and regulations. Compassion cannot mean agreeing to illegal border crossings.
Unfortunately, Ms. Holland’s film is being promoted around the world. A lie intended to make us vulnerable is spreading.
I believe that Agnieszka Holland’s film distorts reality and insults soldiers and officers, and that the stories it shows about throwing pregnant women on barbed wire or serving tea in glasses are complete nonsense that has nothing to do with facts has to make. Just like the legends about migrants swimming in the Bug River for days in winter. But what’s worse, this film is extremely damaging because it portrays us in a bad light, instead of portraying Poland as a victim of the Russian attack. It presents Polish officers as foolish, ruthless bandits and degenerates who turn their power on defenseless people with violence and cruelty. This is an absolutely untrue and damaging image, which aims to destroy the ethos of Polish officers and soldiers and the good image of Poland abroad. I’ve seen what border security looks like. I know people who serve there. If such events were to happen, I guarantee there would be a lot of talk about them, and such people would have to leave their formations.
In such a situation, national and state solidarity would be useful. But we don’t see her, do we?
It surprises me that some people are using the situation on Poland’s eastern border for propaganda and political riots. A few days ago I called for security issues, which are crucial for Poland’s future, to be put above political divisions. Especially now that it is clear that the risk of war is not such a remote scenario, we must all take care of our national interest together. Meanwhile, the opposition is playing with our security for the sake of political adventure and sowing division in society. This is not acceptable.
Will we be able to repel these attacks on defenders of Poland’s borders? How can you counter them? Their authors often play on the scandal?
I have no doubt that most Poles support the actions of Polish services at the border. The respect for people who monitor Polish security, especially in eastern Poland, that is, in areas threatened by potential Russian aggression, is enormous. Many residents of these areas also serve in the military. Areas that the Civic Platform has reserved for losses in the event of a conflict. Poles fear illegal migration and the scenes unfolding on the streets of Paris, Brussels, Berlin and many European cities. Nobody in Poland wants what is happening in Lampedusa. The Civic Platform has repeatedly called for opening the borders and allowing all migrants into Poland. ‘Let these people into Poland! We’ll find out who they are later! – argued opposition activists. Fortunately this didn’t happen.
Thanks to the decisive action of the PiS government, we are defending our border against illegal migration. We are in our country and every guest is welcome, provided he respects our customs and laws.
There are attempts to block the debate about the film. They can paint a dirty picture of the activities of the border guard, Polish politicians cannot protest. How to respond to this?
It’s true, what’s happening around this film is deeply disturbing. The court’s gagging, first of Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, and now the court’s ban on Minister Paweł Jabłoński from commenting on the film, is proof that it is the Platform and its associated judges who are restricting freedom of expression in want to limit Poland. We reach a paradox that the opposition, as part of the political struggle, can freely spit on Polish soldiers and officers, and Poland’s good name can be tarnished for the sake of a political struggle. Politicians, judges and officials are called upon to defend Poland and ensure the safety of Poles. And they are not allowed to spit on the Polish uniform. In such a situation, I have no intention of remaining silent and will always defend the honor of soldiers and officers and the dignity of the Polish uniform.
You are participating in these elections from 10th place on the PiS list in the 18th district of Siedlce-Ostrołęka. Does the topic of safety appear in the campaign in your neighborhood? Is it aware that Tusk’s team will open the border in the East, agree to forced relocation from the West and interrupt the process of rebuilding the strength of the Polish army?
In fact, every day I meet the inhabitants of the region and talk to them about the challenges that Poles and Poles face. The topic of safety is one of the fundamental issues raised in these conversations. People are aware of what Russia is doing beyond our eastern border and they know very well what can threaten us if we do not protect ourselves properly. We must be aware that a hybrid operation is being carried out against Poland, under the supervision of the Russian special services, and that migrants from Belarus are not trying to cross our border because they got off the bus at Grodno.
What are their goals?
Their task was to destabilize the situation in Poland so that it could not help the Ukraine attacked by Russia. The Polish state took swift and professional action to secure our eastern border. Both Polish Army soldiers and Border Guard officers perform their daily duties, risking their lives and health. Poles have always been sensitive to the misfortunes of other countries, which they showed by sheltering refugees from Ukraine.
Recently there has been increasing information that German organizations and institutions support illegal immigration. Perhaps to make Europe, destabilized by the migration crisis, accept German leadership in Europe. We firmly say ‘no’ to such ideas and will strongly oppose any actions that threaten the security of Poland and Poles.
Are the Poles talking about this before the elections?
In the region where I am starting, topics related to border security are very common. Also because it is in Siedlce that the 18th Mechanized Division is being rebuilt and soldiers of the 5th Territorial Defense Brigade are stationed there, and a new anti-aircraft unit is being created in Ostrołęka. The army is permanently connected to the region and guarantees the safety of its inhabitants. At the same time, Poles do not believe in what Donald Tusk says and there is a real fear that if the Platform wins the elections, it will destroy everything PiS has built – it will dismantle the barrier at the border and allow migrants from Africa and Asia to Poland , and disband the military units created and rebuilt by the current government.
thank you for the conversation
Interviewed by mk
Source: wPolityce