Polish Activists accused of illegal aid to immigrants on the Belarusian border. Last hearing in Białystok

The process is taking place in the District Court in Bielsk Podlaski, and the hearings are held in Białystok, in eastern Poland. The accused are responsible for organizing the illegal stay of foreigners in the territory of Poland (art. 264a par. 1 of the Criminal Code). According to the Polish criminal code, this type of act is subject to a penalty ranging from three months to five years of imprisonment.

The activists’ lawyers try to present their actions as an expression of humanitarian aid. However, in the opinion of Ordo Iuris and the Independence March Association, the matter looks different. The collected evidence – such as the use of encrypted communication, modifications made to vehicles, the preparation of dwelling places, or attempts to circumvent Border Guard patrols – indicate that the actual aim of the accused was to organize the smuggling of a group of citizens from Iraq and Egypt to Western Europe.

The two organizations emphasized in the position submitted to the court that calling this type of activity humanitarian aid is manipulative. In their opinion, it is about creating a false image in public opinion, as well as exerting pressure on the judiciary and undermining the credibility of the Border Guard’s actions. Ordo Iuris and the Independence March Association also point to a broader context of the situation on the border with Belarus, which has been conducting hybrid activities, using the migration crisis as a tool to destabilize Poland.

Reports have also emerged in the case suggesting that Klementyna Suchanow, a co-founder of the pro-abortion All-Poland Women’s Strike, might have been involved in the scheme. According to these reports, she was to correspond on the subject of organizing migrant transportation. Furthermore, one of the places where foreigners were to find refuge was to be the headquarters of the Obywateli RP group, which was actively engaged in the protests against the previous government led by Law and Justice.

The last hearing in the case was on September 2. Closing speeches were delivered, but the verdict was not reached on that day. Previously, the prosecution filed for a change in the classification of the act to organizing smuggling (art. 264 par. 2 of the Criminal Code). The court is considering recognizing this act as aiding and abetting, however, Ordo Iuris and the Independence March Association assert that the case directly involved the organization of smuggling. The verdict will be announced on September 8.