Polish court finds ex-official guilty of inciting hatred against Ukrainians
A Polish court sentenced Tołwiński over anti-Ukrainian statements (Photo: Facebook / Krzysztof Tołwiński)
A Polish court has found former Deputy Finance Minister Krzysztof Tołwiński guilty of inciting hatred against Ukrainians over offensive public statements, Gazeta Wyborcza reported on April 27.
The district court in Białystok ruled that Tołwiński violated the law by publishing posts and videos on social media between March 30 and May 10, 2022, in which he insulted Ukrainians based on their nationality and publicly incited hostility toward them.
Prosecutors had previously closed the case twice, finding no criminal offense. The proceedings were revived after Ukrainian journalist and activist Ihor Kravets, in cooperation with the Center for Monitoring Racist and Xenophobic Behavior, filed a subsidiary indictment.
Court materials cited statements in which Tołwiński used offensive language and portrayed Ukrainians as a threat to Polish society. Among them were remarks describing Ukrainians as “primitive elements” and calling for their removal to prevent supposed harm to society.
The court rejected the defense’s argument that the statements were made in a historical context, finding them clearly offensive and xenophobic.
“The defendant used the term ‘Banderites’ as interchangeable with Ukrainians, which is unacceptable,” the court said. “This verdict also serves as a reminder that individuals must consider legal responsibility when publishing content online.”
The defendant’s conduct during the trial was described as demagogic, as he insisted he was being prosecuted for political reasons and emphasized his own national identity, Kravets said.
Tołwiński said he does not recognize the ruling and considers the case a political matter that “improves my political résumé.”
He has previously been accused of promoting pro-Russian and pro-Belarusian narratives. After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he visited Belarus and later described the country as “one of the best-governed states,” praising its leadership.
A day before the verdict, Tołwiński announced plans on social media to take part in events marking the end of World War II at a Soviet soldiers’ cemetery in Warsaw under the slogan “Polishness is not Russophobia.”
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