Polish PM Tusk urges President Nawrocki to speak out after attack on Ukrainian couple in Wrocław

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said following the brutal attack on a Ukrainian couple in Wrocław that the recent rise in violence in Poland is linked to the fact that radical groups feel they have political backing. He also addressed Polish President Karol Nawrocki.

Source: Tusk ahead of a government meeting on Tuesday 28 July, as reported by Onet and RMF24

Details: Tusk said that Poland must wage a determined fight against violence because thugs, hooligans and the culture of violence are becoming increasingly bold and brazen. He argued that they also feel emboldened by political support and added that it was no coincidence that the man who assaulted the Ukrainian woman portrayed himself as a defender of the borders.

Tusk therefore called on Polish President Karol Nawrocki to break his silence on the matter. He also urged the president to pay attention to the activities of radical groups.

The prime minister said he hopes that law enforcement authorities will do everything possible to ensure that those responsible for such incidents are swiftly apprehended and effectively punished.

He also referred to Solidarity, the independent trade union that helped end communist rule in Poland, stressing that it has given Poland a unique position in the world.

Tusk warned that this legacy is now being undermined by thugs, hooligans and ordinary criminals who attack and humiliate people simply because they speak with a slightly different accent.

He also stressed that attacks on Ukrainians run counter to Poland's national interests and urged Poles not to remain indifferent, but to report such acts of violence immediately. Tusk argued that indifference is the root cause of crime and creates ideal conditions for hooligans, violent criminals and evil to flourish.

Background:

• On Sunday 26 July, a young Ukrainian couple was attacked in the Polish city of Wrocław. The couple had gone to a shop near their home, and after leaving the store, they were followed by several men. According to reports, the attack was prompted by "their accent".
• The Consulate General of Ukraine in Wrocław called for a swift response from the Polish law enforcement authorities to the incident in which the Ukrainians were attacked. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has instructed the consulate to urgently take all necessary response measures.
• Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński announced later that two men have been detained.

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