Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has stated that violence against Ukrainian citizens is damaging the country’s international reputation and serves Russia’s interests. He made the remarks following a brutal attack on a Ukrainian couple in Wrocław, in which a man and a woman were injured. The police have arrested two suspects; according to Tusk, another person involved is expected to be arrested shortly.
Briefly about the main points
- A man and a woman from Ukraine were brutally beaten in Wrocław.
- The police have arrested two suspects; according to Tusk, another person involved is due to be arrested shortly.
- Tusk linked the attacks to national prejudice and hatred.
- The Prime Minister called for the swift punishment of those responsible and for preparations to be made for possible changes to the existing mechanisms.
- Tusk urged citizens to take action against violence and report it to the police.
Investigation into the attack in Wrocław
Two men have been arrested in connection with the assault on Ukrainian citizens. One of them attempted to leave Wrocław, but was detained by officers from the police’s counter-terrorism unit.
According to Polish media reports, the men in question are aged 27 and 45. One of them has a criminal record, whilst the other is linked to football hooligan circles. Both compete in mixed martial arts tournaments.
Tusk calls for a firm response from the state
Ahead of the Council of Ministers meeting, Tusk thanked the law enforcement agencies for their swift action and instructed the Minister of the Interior to convey the government’s gratitude to them. At the same time, he called on the police, the public prosecutor’s office and other authorities to ensure not only the arrest but also the swift and effective punishment of those responsible.
The Prime Minister also instructed officials to draw up proposals for possible changes to legislation and procedures should the existing measures prove insufficient. He said that incidents of violence are recurring, and that Ukrainians are often the victims of such violence due to ethnic prejudice and hatred.
Tusk emphasised that the problem is not limited to crimes against foreigners: attacks on Poles by other Polish citizens are also on the rise in Poland. In his view, those who perpetuate a culture of violence have become more brazen because they enjoy political backing.
Accusations levelled at political patrons
The Prime Minister stated that one of those detained had previously presented himself on social media as a «defender of the borders». Tusk stated that certain political forces support groups which call themselves patriotic but, in his view, create a sense of danger and damage Poland’s reputation.
He called on President Karol Nawrocki not to remain silent on the issue of violence, referring to his previous comments on fights involving football hooligans. Separately, Tusk addressed the leader of the Law and Justice party, calling on him to stop calling for the creation of «militant groups» to protect the borders from illegal migrants.
Poland’s image and Ukrainian-Polish relations
Tusk linked the current situation to the image of Poland that the country plans to promote as part of a large-scale international campaign: that of a safe, clean and peaceful country where people can move around cities without fear. Attacks on people because of their accent, according to him, are damaging this image and running counter to the country’s interests.
The Prime Minister believes that violence against Ukrainians is fuelling nationalist sentiments on both sides of the border and plays into Russia’s hands. This is Tusk’s political assessment, made against the backdrop of reports of a rise in verbal abuse and physical assaults against Ukrainians in Poland, fuelled by intensifying debates over the complex chapters of their shared history.
At the end of his speech, he urged Poles not to remain indifferent, to respond to acts of violence and to contact the police immediately.
