Two faces of Gdansk. aid and indifference for Poles in the East

The city of Gdańsk has been moving a program of assistance for Poles returning from Central Asia for years. Repatrians from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia or Russia receive financial support, housing, Polish language lessons and a real chance for a fresh life. Local officials talk about the community, solidarity and "repairing history". But 1 comment on social media was adequate to break this narrative. The Vice president of Gdańsk Piotr Borawski replied to the Internet, which indicated the hard situation of Poles in Siberia. After the Polish consulate closes in Irkutsk, they gotta travel 4200 kilometres to Moscow to settle basic matters. Borawski briefly wrote: “They want to live in Russia – their choice.” The city is declaring help. “Repatriation is ours