Former Polish deputy minister found guilty of inciting hatred against Ukrainians

Former Polish deputy finance minister Krzysztof Tołwiński has been found guilty of insulting Ukrainians and publicly inciting hatred on ethnic grounds by a district court in Białystok.

Source: European Pravda, citing Polish media outlet WP

Details: The verdict was delivered by the district court after the local prosecutor's office had twice closed the case, finding no elements of a crime in the politician's remarks. Eventually a private prosecution was brought by Ukrainian journalist Ihor Kravets in cooperation with the Centre for Monitoring Racist and Xenophobic Behaviour.

The charges cited online posts and recordings by Tołwiński in which he referred to Ukrainians using derogatory language and called for their expulsion from Poland.

The court confirmed that between March and May 2022, the defendant publicly incited hatred on the grounds of ethnicity.

Magdalena Spisak, counsel for the prosecution, added that it is unacceptable to apply certain derogatory terms to all Ukrainians. According to Kravets, the defendant resorted to demagoguery in court, repeatedly claiming he was being tried for his political views.

In a comment to Gazeta Wyborcza, Tołwiński said the ruling – which has not yet entered into force – was purely political.

"This is purely a political case. This verdict enriches my political résumé; it's a political gift to me. For me it is an honour, even though I completely disagree with it," he said.

He rejected the accusations that he had used hate speech, claiming it is alien to Polish culture, and said he would decide whether to appeal after reviewing the written justification for the verdict.

Background:

• In November, a Polish court decided not to remand an anti-Ukrainian activist in custody.
• Earlier, a radio station in Poland was fined for spreading disinformation about Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

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