Poland Permits Border Guards to Fire at Migrants
The Polish president stated that the newly enacted law easing regulations on firearms will enhance border security and ensure the safety of troops. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Polish President Andrzej Duda has enacted a new law that broadens the legal use of weapons by military personnel, police, and border security forces while also shielding them from criminal prosecution for using live ammunition, according to his office.
The legislation, named the ‘Act on Support for the Activities of Soldiers and Officers,’ was signed into law by President Duda during the celebration of Armed Forces Day, reported Malgorzata Paprocka, the head of the presidential office, on Thursday.
The legislation permits military involvement in domestic operations during peacetime and establishes guidelines for firearm usage under such circumstances.
It notably modifies the Polish Criminal Code to absolve soldiers of criminal liability should they discharge their weapons while on border duty to safeguard their own lives or the lives of others, irrespective of whether such action breaks existing regulations.
"The legislation will allow the border and other places to be protected even better, even more efficiently, while also increasing the safety of the Polish soldier," Duda stated.
The Sejm, Poland's parliament, approved the bill in mid-July following an incident where a Polish soldier died from wounds inflicted by a migrant stabbing through a border fence with Belarus. Additionally, in June, three Polish soldiers were arrested for discharging warning shots along the border, with two being accused of abuse of authority and endangering others.
Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, has expressed opposition to the new law. He has advocated for a minimization of the harmful consequences of force usage, suggesting that the law might result in disproportionate force and inadequate investigation of abuse cases.
Criticism also came from within Poland, with Anna Maria Zukowska, leader of The Left parliamentary group, stating in the Sejm that the legislation contradicts constitutional priorities which favor protecting human life over border security.
The issue at the Poland-Belarus border has been ongoing since 2021, characterized by a steady stream of migrants from Africa and the Middle East. Warsaw accuses Belarus of orchestrating these migrations in an attempt to destabilize Poland and other EU nations, a claim that Minsk denies.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
The legislation, named the ‘Act on Support for the Activities of Soldiers and Officers,’ was signed into law by President Duda during the celebration of Armed Forces Day, reported Malgorzata Paprocka, the head of the presidential office, on Thursday.
The legislation permits military involvement in domestic operations during peacetime and establishes guidelines for firearm usage under such circumstances.
It notably modifies the Polish Criminal Code to absolve soldiers of criminal liability should they discharge their weapons while on border duty to safeguard their own lives or the lives of others, irrespective of whether such action breaks existing regulations.
"The legislation will allow the border and other places to be protected even better, even more efficiently, while also increasing the safety of the Polish soldier," Duda stated.
The Sejm, Poland's parliament, approved the bill in mid-July following an incident where a Polish soldier died from wounds inflicted by a migrant stabbing through a border fence with Belarus. Additionally, in June, three Polish soldiers were arrested for discharging warning shots along the border, with two being accused of abuse of authority and endangering others.
Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, has expressed opposition to the new law. He has advocated for a minimization of the harmful consequences of force usage, suggesting that the law might result in disproportionate force and inadequate investigation of abuse cases.
Criticism also came from within Poland, with Anna Maria Zukowska, leader of The Left parliamentary group, stating in the Sejm that the legislation contradicts constitutional priorities which favor protecting human life over border security.
The issue at the Poland-Belarus border has been ongoing since 2021, characterized by a steady stream of migrants from Africa and the Middle East. Warsaw accuses Belarus of orchestrating these migrations in an attempt to destabilize Poland and other EU nations, a claim that Minsk denies.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
