Belarusian Leader’s Provocation Claims Spark Regional Debate
The assertion by Alexander Lukashenko that Polish and American intelligence services are preparing a large-scale provocation against Poland, aimed at discrediting Russia and Belarus, drew strong responses from Polish officials. Tomasz Siemoniak, the coordinator of Poland’s intelligence community, dismissed the claim as misinformation and said it forms part of an information campaign targeting Belarusian public opinion. The Belarusian Telegraph Agency Belta reported that Lukashenko made the remark during a meeting with law enforcement officials, describing a plan by Western intelligence services to provoke unrest in Poland and then blame Russia and Belarus for the act. The report was cited by Belta.
Siemoniak: This is part of information warfare
This is complete nonsense. Siemoniak stated on Radio Zet that such statements should be viewed as elements of information warfare, primarily aimed at shaping public sentiment at home.
He added that Lukashenko often uses unconventional narratives to draw attention to himself, frame Poland in a hostile light, and project anti-Western or anti-Polish sentiment to bolster his stance. According to Siemoniak, intelligence services in democratic nations do not operate in ways that harm their own citizens just to prove a point.
We must closely monitor developments in Belarus
When asked whether Lukashenko’s remarks might foretell a provocation against Poland, Siemoniak replied that nothing could be ruled out. He emphasized the need to monitor closely what is happening in Belarus, including statements from the president and the activities of local services and the army.
Siemoniak noted that Belarus, a neighbor to Poland, plays a role in the broader Russian-Ukrainian conflict and serves as a potential logistical base in support of Russia. Regarding the Polish-Belarusian border, he said border guards were sending messages, and there were typically fewer illegal crossings during winter months.
End-of-March plan to dissolve the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau
The minister-coordinator of the secret services announced a draft law that would abolish the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) and transfer its functions to the police, the Internal Security Service, and the tax authorities. The proposal is scheduled for presentation at the end of March. While discussing the potential impact, he did not forecast the final decision from President Andrzej Duda and indicated that discussions on the matter were expected to proceed. He stressed that the CBA should continue to operate normally for the time being and emphasized that corruption must be fought with resolve.
He expressed confidence in Agnieszka Kwiatkowska Gurdak, who leads the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau, and underscored the importance of maintaining robust anti-corruption capabilities during this period of potential institutional change.
In a broader reflection on regional security, the statements highlighted how political rhetoric can influence public opinion and the dynamics of cross-border cooperation. Observers note that Poland remains vigilant on border security and international alliances, especially given evolving tensions in the region and ongoing security concerns linked to Russia and its allies. The discussion also touched on how information operations may be used to sway public perception within Poland and among neighboring populations, underscoring the need for clear verification of such claims and careful handling of strategic communications.
Source: wPolityce [citation]