DISINFO: The Belarusian Poles speak about their national roots only when they break the law
SUMMARY
Warsaw considers the lawful reaction of the Belarusian law-enforcement agencies to illegal actions of particular Belarusian citizens, calling themselves the Poles, as repressions against the Polish minority in this country. For some reason, certain people speak about their national roots only when they break the law.
RESPONSE
This message is a part of the disinformation campaign aimed against the Polish minority living in Belarus and the position of Poland towards the Belarusian authorities. The claim that the arrested representatives of the Polish community have violated the Belarusian laws is ungrounded.
Throughout March 2021, the authoritarian authorities of Belarus arrested a number of representatives of the Polish minority living in Belarus under various fake accusations (such as “rehabilitation of Nazism” and “incitement to national hatred”). The list of arrested persons includes the leader of the Belarusian Union of Poles Anzhelika Borys, a journalist Andrzej Poczobut and several teachers from local Polish schools. Some of the arrested activists may be sentenced to up to 12 years in prison. Read more about the situation around arrested representatives of the Polish minority living in Belarus here.
Poland and the EU appeal to the Belarusian authorities to stop political repressions and persecution against the Polish minority in Belarus.
Poland is a neighbour of Belarus and it continues to support the Belarusian people. Poland respects the principles of international law and does not intervene in the domestic affairs of any country.
See other cases connected to the current political dispute between Poland and the authoritarian regime of Lukashenka in Belarus: Polish historical policy disrespects Belarus; The Polish position on Belarus is exceptionally hostile and The Belarusian Union of Poles has not even tried to become officially registered.