1609 shots
Since the beginning of the year, Polish soldiers stationed on the border with Belarus have fired 1,609 shots, which translates into over 5 shots a day. The Ministry of National defence informs that all these shots were only informing shots and aimed at securing the border from illegal crossing.
The Safe Podlasie Task Force, which supports Border defender operations, has not reported any cases of migrant injury due to the usage of weapons. In the face of increasingly aggressive attempts to cross the border by migrants, the military increasingly reaches for smooth-bore weapons and uses rubber ammunition as a deterrent.
General Arkadiusz Szkutnik, the leader of the group, pointed out that this solution proved effective as aggressive migrants retreat erstwhile they see armed soldiers.
Two proceedings are pending
However, the situation at the border is inactive controversial. “Rzeczpospolita” informs that the territory Attorney's Office in Warsaw conducts 2 procedures related to the usage of arms by soldiers.
The first concerns the incidental of November 3, 2023, erstwhile a soldier shot a Syrian in pursuit, which required hospitalization of the victim.
The second procedure relates to the March 25 event in which soldiers fired shots at a group of migrants trying to push the border, even though there was no direct threat of life.
Holland attacks the government
Agnieszka Holland, manager of Green Borders, besides referred to the current situation of immigrants illegally crossing the Polish territory. The manager participated in a protest before the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, where she gave a speech with outrage to the politicians of the ruling party. Holland accused the authorities of spreading “propaganda of fear, lies and racism”, and besides called Polish soldiers murderers.
During the protest, the manager expressed her opinion on the alleged violation of the constitution and criticized Tusk for promoting fear and lies. After the assembly ended, in consequence to the question of tv writer Republika, Michał Guardyński, about her comments on Polish soldiers, the artist referred to them as murderers.
Mr. Michael, get distant from me. Learn that journalism is not about stalking people you don't like in any way. – she said at the end.
