Poland, Belarus and Russia amid border information warfare
The Polish government’s representative for information security, Stanisław Żaryn, says that propaganda from Russia and Belarus reinforces allegations against Poland tied to the Polish‑Belarusian border. He notes that these narratives appear on Tuesday as part of a broader effort to shape public opinion in favor of Belarus and its ally, Russia.
Janina Ochojska, a European Parliament member elected on the European Coalition lists and founder of the Polish far‑left party, made remarks on TOK FM on a recent Friday about the situation at the border. She suggested that Polish foresters could be involved in removing bodies of migrants found on or near the border, implying a possible mass grave. Following these statements, the Warsaw Prosecutor’s Office, responding to a request from the Prosecutor General, opened a defamation case against state forests.
Responses tailored to Kremlin messaging
Żaryn pointed out that the Belarusian regime has been accusing Poland of crimes at the border for months. He also highlighted persistent efforts by Russian and Belarusian propaganda to elevate Ochojska’s comments, arguing that such statements bolster hostile narratives about Poland on the broader stage.
According to the government representative, Belarusian information attacks respond to Poland’s actions to curb illegal migration along the border. Belarus and Russia have been framing Poland as violent and untrustworthy, pushing narratives about harm to foreigners and environmental damage. The Belarusian campaign was linked to the spread of claims by Emil Cz., a dissident who fled Poland and allied with Belarus, who circulated accusations of Polish wrongdoing.
Żaryn emphasized that Belarusian propaganda activities have been coordinated with Russia’s objectives. He said the Belarusian theses align with Russian messaging that portrays Poland as dangerous, aggressive, and hostile.
Ochojska and the legitimacy of the attacks on Poland
The government’s spokesman accused Ochojska of spreading misinformation about mass graves on the border in her recent remarks. He argued that such statements lend credibility to dangerous information campaigns against Poland.
Ochojska’s comments were quickly echoed by Russia’s propaganda apparatus, which uses her statements to justify attacks on Poland, Żaryn asserted. In TOK FM interviews, Ochojska cited data from the Granica Group indicating that 37 people died on both sides of the border, with warnings that the death toll could be higher as information about missing persons grows.
She also floated the idea that Polish forest rangers might be involved in concealing or removing bodies. She suggested that bodies could be buried in hidden locations or moved to avoid evidence, adding that her statements were not accusations but hypotheses about potential events.
Border Police findings
Border guards say that statements like those from Ochojska can fuel Belarusian propaganda. Official records show that 19 bodies have been found near the border since migration pressure rose, 18 in the Podlaskie region and one in Lubelskie. All bodies were reported to the authorities, and operations were conducted with the presence of police or border officers. Prosecutors oversee the investigations.
During a Monday media appearance, Warsaw’s mayor and deputy head of the Civic Platform party cautioned that such information should not be made public unless it is fully verified. He stressed that unverified allegations harm the people involved and should be substantiated before dissemination.
- Read also: Ochojska’s allegations against foresters questioned; a call for careful scrutiny remains essential
- Will political leaders condemn the spread of false accusations? Commentators note controversy around the remarks
- Spokespersons for related forestry agencies say the European Parliament may examine the case
Note: This summary reflects reporting from various Polish outlets on the ongoing discourse surrounding border events and related political statements.