President Nawrocki to the conference participants in Zamość: Russia does not defend conventional order

"Kreml treats the Church and its clergy instrumentally as another tool for sowing propaganda and legitimizing its authoritarian power. The illusion is besides the image of Russia as a guardian and a standing conventional household and morals. This thesis contradicts the fundamental facts: inherited from communism and consistently continued universality in this country specified phenomena as abortion and divorce, the breakdown of interpersonal ties and social anemia," wrote president Karol Nawrocki to the participants of the conference held present in Zamość "Conservative Russia. Fantasmagoria, or reality.” The event is organized by the Fr Piotr Skarga Christian Culture Association and the Zamojska Academy. We print the full content of the letter.

Organisations and Conference Participants

"Conservative Russia. Fantasmagoria, or reality?”

in Zamość

Ladies and gentlemen,

I warmly greet all those gathered, at the head of an excellent group of scientists and experts, who will undertake present an highly crucial debate in the face of the contemporary geopolitical challenges facing Poland and Europe. These challenges are mainly due to Russia's aggressive, imperialist policy, let us say. In the face of the 4 years of war behind our east border, as well as hybrid actions conducted against Poland, reflection on Russia's ideological face is of peculiar importance.

A critical look at Russia and the issue of conservatism is an ambitious and multifaceted task, in which doctrine with historiosophy, sociology with religion and many another areas penetrate. However, speaking to you, I would like to thin above all on the most current and closest political circumstantial to me. present I can reiterate with even greater conviction the words I said in September 2025 during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. We are at a turning point in history, and the consequences of the decisions we make present will resonate for decades to come. Not only ad hoc political action, but besides assessments and analyses in public debate, are applicable in this context. Now that Russia remains a threat to Europe – regardless of the possible peace that could be concluded with Ukraine – our actions and words express work for the nation and its security. That is why I am pleased that you are taking up a discussion that meets Russia's repentant imagination as the expected foreground of Christianity.

French philosopher and historian Jules Michelet wrote of Russia’s variable propaganda: “She said to us yesterday: I am a Christian. next day he will tell us: I am socialism.” In this celebrated slogan, there is an eternal question about what Russia truly is and where it is going. I see the announcements of the answer in the title of the lecture by prof. Andrzej Nowak, who will present at the conference the way “from the 3rd Rome to the Russian Mirus”.

W Your discussions will surely not deficiency courage and investigation, which may mean Latin Conservare for the Russian soul. Does Russian conservatism have anything to do with the slogans of defending the conventional order – those that appeared as a consequence to the axiological, social and political reassessments brought by the French Revolution? Or possibly the only thing that can be preserved in the East is the legacy of russian totalitarianism? specified questions come to head as a consequence of a collision of shocking contrasts. On the 1 hand – Mikołaj Gogol asking about "dead souls" and on the another – Felix Dzierżyński, the bloody chief of Bolsheviks Waits, liable for the death of thousands of people. From 1 – virtuoso sounds of Prokofiev's ballet music, and from the another – Lenin and the demolition of millions of people in the name of red ideas. After the fall of communism, many wanted to believe that along with it, these cruel vices had besides passed away. The return to wartime aggression under Vladimir Putin's regulation – along with an arsenal of lies posing good will and poorly masked contempt for another nations – put an end to illusions. He showed that Moscow's superior value was a brutal, primitive force.

Lie, falsehood, delusion, deception were the foundation of russian propaganda. They besides dominate contemporary Kremlin politics. 1 of the main instruments of this strategy is historical misinformation, aimed at Poland. An example of this kind of action can be given to resuscitate ideological films from russian times. I mean to present aggression against Poland from September 1939 as liberation of Belarusian and Ukrainian peasants and workers from the oppression of Polish areaists. specified a message appears in the Kremel communicative of fresh years. In a akin way, Putin attacked us in an article published in 2020 by the National Interest, where he wrote that if in 1939 the russian Union did not occupy half of Poland, millions of people of different nationalities, including Jews, would be thrown to the Nazis and their local supporters. An even more fresh example of reversing the notions of communist propaganda is Putin's words in December 2025 erstwhile he stated that "it is not Russia that is at war with the West, but the West is at war with Russia, through Ukrainian nationalists."

I have cited examples of lies in a political context, but the social, intellectual and moral aspects are equally important. The story of allegedly conservative Russia standing defender on Christian values has been supported for years by pictures of Putin surrounded by Orthodox hierarchs. The Kremlin treats the Church and its clergy instrumentally as another tool for sowing propaganda and legitimizing its authoritarian power. The illusion is besides the image of Russia as a guardian and a standing conventional household and morals. This thesis is contradicted by fundamental facts: inherited from communism and consistently continued universality in this country specified phenomena as abortion and divorce, the breakdown of interpersonal ties and social anemia.

Is it so lawful to talk of the conservativeness of Russia, and if so, in what sense? I don't claim to make final diagnosis. On the another hand, I express my joy that you will thin over this issue and, I trust, will verify many incorrect views and half-truths. I want you an excellent and vibrant intellectual discussion, and above all a common effort to prosecute the truth, which is the most effective weapon against intentional falsehoods
And naive delusions.

With respect

Karol Nawrocki
President of Poland

Prof. Dariusz Dudek read the letter.

Source: President.pl