News from the Polish border at the Belarus line reports ongoing inquiries into alleged abuses of power by soldiers guarding the frontier. Ten separate investigations are already underway, according to national press coverage, with statements from a government official emphasizing that border operations continue without changes while prosecutors actively pursue possible misconduct by service members on site.
Data from the National Prosecutor’s Office indicate that nine out of ten investigations this year concern abuses of power, including cases where migrants faced potential risks to life and health in some border encounters. Last year, just one such inquiry had been opened. Most of these investigations rely on materials provided by the Border Guard, the agency charged with securing the border. There is a single case concerning two soldiers that has been publicly disclosed, while the others remain investigations and have not resulted in charges at this stage.
All cases are tied to crimes described in Article 231, Section 1 of the Polish Criminal Code, which covers breach of official duties and abuse of power, along with elements of Article 160, Section 1, related to exposing individuals to danger. Given the significance of these matters, seven investigations have been directed to the military division of the District Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw, two to the District Prosecutor’s Office in Białystok (one later discontinued), and one to a team of prosecutors and investigators in the Prosecutor’s Office in Siedlce. Notably, these figures cover criminal cases from July 2021, when migratory pressure at the Poland-Belarus border intensified, through July 10 of the current year.
Assaults by groups of immigrants on border personnel
Polish border personnel report confrontations with organized groups carrying slings, knives, and spears. One incident in May resulted in the death of a soldier, Mateusz Sitek, who was fatally wounded by a knife. Through the year, authorities report that firearms were used 1,300 times, with the majority being warning shots fired into the air; the previous year saw 320 such uses. The evolving border situation has prompted legislative changes to permit the use of weapons or other coercive measures under specific conditions to defend life and safety. An amendment clarifies that liability may be excluded for actions taken under exceptional circumstances to repel direct attacks on life, health, or freedom, according to recent coverage of the development.
Błaszczak: border operations remain unchanged
The discussion around border security featured commentary from a former defense minister and current member of parliament. He stated on a major social platform that there have been no adjustments to border policy. He highlighted ongoing prosecutor-led inquiries into potential abuses by soldiers stationed at the frontier, noting that some accusations stem from reports by groups described as activists who have allegedly obstructed military duties. The overarching concern, as voiced, is whether the focus has strayed from defending the border to pursuing service members tasked with repelling illegal border incursions.
There is a call for authorities to prioritize border defense and to refrain from actions that could undermine the morale and effectiveness of the military personnel involved in protecting the line.
The broader commentary urges more attention to safeguarding national boundaries rather than pursuing internal investigations that might be perceived as punitive toward border defenders.
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Source mentions: wPolityce
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