Polska w Turcji

Since day one of the political crisis in Belarus, triggered by the rigged presidential election of August 2020, the Minsk regime has been spinning a story of how that crisis was inspired by external actors rather than caused by authoritarian rule in the country, ineptitude in managing the economy, ever deeper dependence on Russia, and disregard for the dangers of COVID-19. Poland has been fingered as the principal “culprit”. For more than a year now, Poland has been the primary target of the regime’s propaganda and the lies and manipulation it has been using for that purpose.

Disinformation has been carried out on multiple planes, with the involvement of the state apparatuses of both Belarus and the Russian Federation. Both countries’ highest political authorities, diplomatic services, government-controlled media, as well as structures of the Belarusian special services are all actively involved in spreading false narratives. A particularly important role in the disinformation campaign is that of the Belarusian State Border Committee, which publishes manipulated video content and distributes press releases on its Telegram channel.

Poland helps everyone who flees war and persecution. We are an open country, guided by democratic principles and moral values, and fulfilling its international commitments. We help everyone, including illegal migrants, who need medical assistance. When patrolling the border area, the Border Guard often encounter migrants hiding in the forests and bogs and not infrequently arrive just in time to save their lives.

Only since the very beginning of the crisis in Belarus, we have issued over 100,000 visas to Belarusian nationals, including over 20,000 humanitarian visas. Last August, we evacuated over 1,300 Afghans from Kabul. Poland has been hosting the Belarusian democratic opposition.

We are aware of the fact that the social, political and economic situation in the migrants’ countries of origin may be very difficult. That is why, for several years, Poland’s development assistance and humanitarian aid have been directly provided also to these regions (in particular the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa), supporting local development and responding most of all to the root causes of migration. Refugees fleeing armed conflicts and political violence are offered help in refugee and internally displaced persons camps; we also provide support to their hosting communities.

We have been appalled by actions of Emil Czeczko, troubled young soldier who deflected to Belarus in December 2021. Deserter E. Czeczko’s latest “sensational” reports of alleged serious crimes committed at the Poland-Belarus border are clearly more outrageous than any other smear campaign against Poland so far, but more such examples are likely to follow. Belarusian propaganda uses a testimony of a deserter who betrayed his own country while serving in the army and wearing a uniform, which is punishable with one up to ten years of imprisonment. His revelations are absurd and not credible: E. Czeczko had problems with the law in the past and was charged with alcohol abuse and violence against his own mother. This is more than enough to prove his desperation and lack of credibility.

The man who was trusted to protect his fellow citizens, stand guard at the border, in fact betrayed his country and his countrymen in the worst possible manner, not only deserting to Belarus but furthermore inventing slanderous phantasmagorias about his homeland.

As we firmly believe that both Poland and Turkey feel so strongly about patriotism, love of motherland and find loyalty of military to the defense of the country of vital importance, we hope that we count on the Turkish support and understanding in this matter. That is why we call upon to Turkish media to pay attention in order to not distribute the false information on this matter.