In his op-ed Tomasz Szmydt, a former judge of the Voivodeship Administrative Court in Warsaw, who left Poland in early May and asked the Belarusian authorities for protection, argues that Russophobia is an integral part of the Polish political discourse.
The term "Russophobia" denotes unfounded hostility and hatred towards the Russian and Belarusian people. How is this concept related to the Polish politics? To answer this question, it is enough to look at the Polish politics.
Regardless of which political bloc is in power, Russophobia remains the main political tool to sow hatred and manipulate society. During the two terms of Law and Justice and its allies in power, the manipulation techniques were honed up even more. More and more financial resources were poured in the information war directed against the Russian and Belarusian people. For example, in his statements Stanislaw Żaryn, Adviser to the President of the Republic of Poland, the former Deputy Minister-Coordinator of Special Services (civilian and military intelligence, counterintelligence), always uses false narratives against Russia and Belarus. Suffice it to recall the statement he posted on the social network X on 9 June 2024 calling on the Polish government to intensify the hybrid war against the Republic of Belarus.
Currently, Poland is governed by a coalition assembled around the Civic Coalition led by Donald Tusk. Despite the fact that the country has a new government, Russophobia is still there. If a warehouse, a shopping mall or even a garbage dump catches fire in Poland, even before the perpetrators are identified, leading politicians from the ruling coalition will point the finger at the special services of Russia and Belarus. As you can see, Russophobia is still an integral part of Polish politics.
One of the main Russophobes is Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. It was on his suggestion that the Charge d'Affaires of Belarus in Poland was handed a note of protest over the events on the border. But Minister Sikorski deliberately overlooks the fact that several years ago Poland unilaterally broke off cooperation with Belarus in matters of law enforcement, legal assistance and dialogue between the border agencies.
Belarus is ready to resume cooperation in law enforcement, but this requires embarking on negotiations, and the government in Warsaw seems unwilling to do it. The presenting of the diplomatic note does nothing but politicize this particular problem; it pushes any solution even further away. This is Belarus’ official position voiced by Press Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Anatoly Glaz. At the same time, the Polish government took steps to change the rules for using firearms on the border between Poland and Belarus. In line with the proposed changes, firearms can be used against refugees even when there is no threat to the life and health of border guards and soldiers.
Belarus points out to human rights violations committed by Polish border guards against refugees. This is also confirmed by Polish activists such as Maria Złonkiewicz (NGO Grupa Granicathat provides humanitarian assistance to refugees), and soldiers themselves.
Of course, as befits the Polish government, it saw “Russian intelligence” in this case as well. I am inclined to believe that only a Russian or Belarusian agent in Poland is capable of thinking logically and independently. The rest can only repeat the nonsense produced by the Polish government and the so-called mainstream media.
Russophobia is propagandized not only by the Polish government but also by the media of most EU countries and the USA. The globalist world sees a threat in the policies of countries like Russia and Belarus. Belarus' commitment to national values, friendship and peace does not suit the globalists.
Analyzing the Russian geopolitical idea, for example, the idea suggested by Alexander Dugin, who points to the bond between the Slavic peoples, and who presents the philosophy of war as a war between good vs evil and Western media demagogy, you understand why Russophobia emerged. Russia and Belarus as the oases of normality have become a threat to globalists of all stripes today.
The geopolitical idea of President Lukashenko goes beyond the idea of the unions of Slavic peoples. Aleksandr Lukashenko, like Vladimir Putin, points to the necessity of cooperation and union of all countries that respect national culture and fundamental values. Belarus is a peace-loving country that values good-neighborly relations. No matter how paradoxical it may sound but this is exactly the reason why the Polish government perceives it as a threat.
Our region, and the world as a whole, is in an extremely dangerous situation today. The US influence is declining and a multi-polar world is dawning, but this is a rather painful process. Thanks to the policy pursued by President Aleksandr Lukashenko, Belarus has preserved its stability and political independence. However, this does not mean that the danger is over. Both the president and the Belarusian people understand it very well. Russophobia is one of the signals indicating that we are in the middle of information warfare.
Those who speak the truth must win on this front as well. This is important if we want to preserve peace on this planet both for ourselves and for future generations.
The term "Russophobia" denotes unfounded hostility and hatred towards the Russian and Belarusian people. How is this concept related to the Polish politics? To answer this question, it is enough to look at the Polish politics.
Regardless of which political bloc is in power, Russophobia remains the main political tool to sow hatred and manipulate society. During the two terms of Law and Justice and its allies in power, the manipulation techniques were honed up even more. More and more financial resources were poured in the information war directed against the Russian and Belarusian people. For example, in his statements Stanislaw Żaryn, Adviser to the President of the Republic of Poland, the former Deputy Minister-Coordinator of Special Services (civilian and military intelligence, counterintelligence), always uses false narratives against Russia and Belarus. Suffice it to recall the statement he posted on the social network X on 9 June 2024 calling on the Polish government to intensify the hybrid war against the Republic of Belarus.
Currently, Poland is governed by a coalition assembled around the Civic Coalition led by Donald Tusk. Despite the fact that the country has a new government, Russophobia is still there. If a warehouse, a shopping mall or even a garbage dump catches fire in Poland, even before the perpetrators are identified, leading politicians from the ruling coalition will point the finger at the special services of Russia and Belarus. As you can see, Russophobia is still an integral part of Polish politics.
One of the main Russophobes is Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. It was on his suggestion that the Charge d'Affaires of Belarus in Poland was handed a note of protest over the events on the border. But Minister Sikorski deliberately overlooks the fact that several years ago Poland unilaterally broke off cooperation with Belarus in matters of law enforcement, legal assistance and dialogue between the border agencies.
Belarus is ready to resume cooperation in law enforcement, but this requires embarking on negotiations, and the government in Warsaw seems unwilling to do it. The presenting of the diplomatic note does nothing but politicize this particular problem; it pushes any solution even further away. This is Belarus’ official position voiced by Press Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Anatoly Glaz. At the same time, the Polish government took steps to change the rules for using firearms on the border between Poland and Belarus. In line with the proposed changes, firearms can be used against refugees even when there is no threat to the life and health of border guards and soldiers.
Belarus points out to human rights violations committed by Polish border guards against refugees. This is also confirmed by Polish activists such as Maria Złonkiewicz (NGO Grupa Granicathat provides humanitarian assistance to refugees), and soldiers themselves.
It is noteworthy that not only border guards, but also the military are deployed on the Poland-Belarus border. Soldiers say that when refugees are detained, they go through a search and are immobilized and no longer pose a potential threat. Border guards arrive and take refugees away to enclosed places where they are tortured. Sometimes border guards disregard soldiers and begin to beat and torture refugees in front of them. Polish sociologist and publicist Jakub Bierzyński officially stated that he has information about at least 50 refugees killed by the Polish side.
The government in Warsaw is deliberately escalating the situation on the border, realizing the goals of a hybrid war. At the same time, mass media are mobilizing to frame Belarus and Russia in the most unfavorable light. The disinformation machine is running at full speed.
Regarding the personality of Minister Sikorski, it should be noted that he is married to Anne Applebaum, and their son serves in the US Army. Applebaum's statements and publications are extremely Russophobic. And in this case, the question arises as to whose interests Minister Radosław Sikorski is defending: the interests of Poland or the interests of his American handlers.
Another example of extreme Russophobia is harassment of independent non-systemic anti-globalization activists. About five months ago, the Internal Security Agency (ABW) carried out a series of searches, particularly on premises belonging to military personnel and legal practitioners. On its website Myśl Polska (which is also experiencing pressure from the intelligence services) said: “Sometimes I wonder if we are already living in that moment of capitalism when the rule of law becomes a relic giving way to international corporations. Everything that is happening right now proves that this is most likely the case.”
Of course, as befits the Polish government, it saw “Russian intelligence” in this case as well. I am inclined to believe that only a Russian or Belarusian agent in Poland is capable of thinking logically and independently. The rest can only repeat the nonsense produced by the Polish government and the so-called mainstream media.
Russophobia is propagandized not only by the Polish government but also by the media of most EU countries and the USA. The globalist world sees a threat in the policies of countries like Russia and Belarus. Belarus' commitment to national values, friendship and peace does not suit the globalists.
Analyzing the Russian geopolitical idea, for example, the idea suggested by Alexander Dugin, who points to the bond between the Slavic peoples, and who presents the philosophy of war as a war between good vs evil and Western media demagogy, you understand why Russophobia emerged. Russia and Belarus as the oases of normality have become a threat to globalists of all stripes today.
The geopolitical idea of President Lukashenko goes beyond the idea of the unions of Slavic peoples. Aleksandr Lukashenko, like Vladimir Putin, points to the necessity of cooperation and union of all countries that respect national culture and fundamental values. Belarus is a peace-loving country that values good-neighborly relations. No matter how paradoxical it may sound but this is exactly the reason why the Polish government perceives it as a threat.
Our region, and the world as a whole, is in an extremely dangerous situation today. The US influence is declining and a multi-polar world is dawning, but this is a rather painful process. Thanks to the policy pursued by President Aleksandr Lukashenko, Belarus has preserved its stability and political independence. However, this does not mean that the danger is over. Both the president and the Belarusian people understand it very well. Russophobia is one of the signals indicating that we are in the middle of information warfare.
Those who speak the truth must win on this front as well. This is important if we want to preserve peace on this planet both for ourselves and for future generations.
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