Poland’s Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski, has demanded Belarusian authorities identify and hand over the murderer of a Polish soldier who died defending the border.
The soldier was fatally stabbed while preventing an illegal crossing. Sikorski asserted this act wasn’t perpetrated by refugees but by criminals.
“When someone puts a knife on the tip of a spear and strikes through the fence, across the state border, at a Polish soldier, they are not refugees, but ordinary criminals,” declared the head of Polish diplomacy at a meeting with voters.
The Polish foreign minister also said an investigation is ongoing regarding the death of the Polish soldier. “We demand that the Belarusian authorities identify the murderer and hand him over to the Polish authorities as part of the investigation already conducted by our Ministry of Justice,” Sikorski declared.
He also stated that later on Thursday, “literally in fifteen minutes, a protest note will be handed to the Belarusian chargé d'affaires at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
“I promise that the Belarusian authorities will face consequences for this. It is completely unacceptable for a neighboring country to behave this way at the border,” he emphasized.
“When someone puts a knife on the tip of a spear and strikes through the fence, across the state border, at a Polish soldier, they are not refugees, but ordinary criminals,” declared the head of Polish diplomacy at a meeting with voters.
The Polish foreign minister also said an investigation is ongoing regarding the death of the Polish soldier. “We demand that the Belarusian authorities identify the murderer and hand him over to the Polish authorities as part of the investigation already conducted by our Ministry of Justice,” Sikorski declared.
He also stated that later on Thursday, “literally in fifteen minutes, a protest note will be handed to the Belarusian chargé d'affaires at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
“I promise that the Belarusian authorities will face consequences for this. It is completely unacceptable for a neighboring country to behave this way at the border,” he emphasized.
Controversial detention
In recent days, Poland has been shocked by the news of two Polish soldiers being detained by the military police for firing warning shots toward a group of migrants trying to illegally cross the Polish-Belarusian border back in late March/early April.
The government has announced a swift investigation into the detention of the soldiers. President Andrzej Duda has called for a National Security Council meeting, while the opposition is demanding the resignation of the defense minister, the minister of justice, and even the prime minister.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz expressed his disapproval of the detentions, labeling the action as unacceptable on the X platform overnight.
On Thursday, he reported being notified of the incident by the Military Police commander. Kosiniak-Kamysz clarified that the decision to detain the soldiers was made independently by the Military Police, without informing him, the attorney general, or other ministers.
He gave his assurance that any overreach of authority would be met with appropriate consequences.
The gravity of the situation on the eastern border was underscored by Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the main opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS), who stated that Polish soldiers need to be confident in their ability to use all legally permitted measures, including firearms, to ensure border security. He stressed that the detention of soldiers undermines this confidence.
Former Defense Minister and PiS deputy leader Mariusz Błaszczak called for Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s resignation in light of the soldiers’ detention. Similarly, Deputy Speaker of the Sejm Krzysztof Bosak from the Confederation party argued that both the justice minister and defense minister should step down, highlighting that it is unacceptable to arrest soldiers for using firearms against a group of individuals trying to cross the border illegally.
In contrast, Sejm Speaker and Poland 2050 leader Szymon Hołownia urged calm and trust in the state institutions to investigate whether the soldiers had acted within the law.
He emphasized the importance of unity and warned against falling for Belarusian provocations. Hołownia affirmed that soldiers have the right to defend themselves against attackers, stressing the need to protect both themselves and the nation.
In recent days, Poland has been shocked by the news of two Polish soldiers being detained by the military police for firing warning shots toward a group of migrants trying to illegally cross the Polish-Belarusian border back in late March/early April.
The government has announced a swift investigation into the detention of the soldiers. President Andrzej Duda has called for a National Security Council meeting, while the opposition is demanding the resignation of the defense minister, the minister of justice, and even the prime minister.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz expressed his disapproval of the detentions, labeling the action as unacceptable on the X platform overnight.
On Thursday, he reported being notified of the incident by the Military Police commander. Kosiniak-Kamysz clarified that the decision to detain the soldiers was made independently by the Military Police, without informing him, the attorney general, or other ministers.
He gave his assurance that any overreach of authority would be met with appropriate consequences.
The gravity of the situation on the eastern border was underscored by Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the main opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS), who stated that Polish soldiers need to be confident in their ability to use all legally permitted measures, including firearms, to ensure border security. He stressed that the detention of soldiers undermines this confidence.
Former Defense Minister and PiS deputy leader Mariusz Błaszczak called for Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s resignation in light of the soldiers’ detention. Similarly, Deputy Speaker of the Sejm Krzysztof Bosak from the Confederation party argued that both the justice minister and defense minister should step down, highlighting that it is unacceptable to arrest soldiers for using firearms against a group of individuals trying to cross the border illegally.
In contrast, Sejm Speaker and Poland 2050 leader Szymon Hołownia urged calm and trust in the state institutions to investigate whether the soldiers had acted within the law.
He emphasized the importance of unity and warned against falling for Belarusian provocations. Hołownia affirmed that soldiers have the right to defend themselves against attackers, stressing the need to protect both themselves and the nation.
Source: TVP World, PAP
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