In the European Parliament, the newly opened exhibition titled “Pushback is illegal, helping is legal” addresses the situation at the Polish-Belarusian border. Its initiator is Janina Ochojska. On social media, MEP Patryk Jaki commented that the exhibition presents Poland as a target of external pressure without justification.
Jaki: An exhibition accusing Poland has opened in the European Parliament
At the initiative of a member of the European Parliament from the PO, the exhibition has opened with content that questions Poland and its officials who defend the country against a hybrid campaign linked to Minsk and Moscow. The party PO is described as a distant political actor now focusing on Poland.
– Jaki shared photographs and statements about the display. The exhibition includes images of migrants in forested areas and border guards at a floodgate.
Guests at the opening of the exhibition
Janina Ochojska, MEP elected from KO lists and founder of the Polish Humanitarian Action, announced on social media that the exhibition was opening today.
“A visit from guests began in Bruges yesterday, marking the first stop in Belgium. The upcoming days will be significant as I plan to meet attendees and unveil the exhibition I organized at the European Parliament. Pushback is illegal. Helping is legal,” she posted.
She noted she was accompanied by activists and volunteers from organizations that offer humanitarian aid to migrants daily, as well as migrants who had faced the border crossing and received refugee status.
In another post, Ochojska highlighted a photo of a young woman from Rwanda who hid in the Białowieża forest after crossing into Belarus, which was recognized as the photo of the year at a gala hosted by a photojournalists’ association.
Ochoyska’s remarks
Since the crisis at the Polish-Belarusian border began, KO MEP Janina Ochojska and groups like the Granica Association have asserted that they assist migrants, while Polish authorities and security services have been labeled as harsh or callous toward migrants. Security services have cautioned that some actions by Ochojska or the Granica group may not truly aid migrants and could be used to influence Belarusian authorities, potentially affecting border security and the broader situation.”
Ochojska has also claimed that she knows who is causing the border crisis but still criticizes the Polish government and security services more than the Belarusian leadership.
Questions have been raised about figures at the border. Earlier this year, Ochojska stated in the European Parliament that 212 people were missing and 34 had died at the border, with many being young. However, Border Guard data do not always align with these statements.
The investigation into recent migrant fatalities has identified 14 bodies since the crisis began in August 2021. A Border Guard spokesperson noted discrepancies between the numbers provided by different parties and the official records.
One journalist who spoke with activists remarked that some numbers may have originated from Belarusian sources, prompting questions about the reliability of certain datasets and the exchange of information across borders. The prosecutor’s office, border guards, and police maintain that 14 bodies are accounted for in their records.
“Genocide at the border?”
At the end of January, Ochojska argued that she would not hesitate to describe the actions of Polish border services as genocide, while acknowledging that similar acts have occurred in Ukraine under different circumstances. She stated that even if 34 lives are confirmed and more are found, the term genocide could apply when innocent lives are lost. This comment came in an interview with Interia.pl.
In other remarks, she drew comparisons between current Poland and Nazi Germany and has connected the PiS government with the Putin regime.
Although Ochojska condemns pushbacks as illegal and criticizes the Polish authorities and security services for their treatment of migrants, she has also criticized the completion of a temporary border dam and the broader border security measures. Her response to the government’s announcements about border infrastructure has been notably vocal.
It is clear that the moment was tense, and the participation at the European level appeared to provoke strong reactions from various sides. Minsk and Moscow are likely to monitor such exhibitions closely.
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Sources: wPolityce