PM Tusk wants legal changes to support soldiers protecting borders

Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Friday met with the Ministers of National Defense and Justice. The meeting concerned three Polish soldiers detained by the Military Police for firing warning shots at migrants trying to force their way through the Polish-Belarusian border.

The prosecutor's office accused two of these soldiers of exceeding their authority and endangering the lives of others.

At a press conference after the meeting, Tusk announced changes to the regulations aimed at supporting soldiers using weapons in self-defense or when defending the territory of Poland. He also said he would seek to dismiss Deputy Prosecutor General for Military Affairs, Tomasz Janeczek. This, however, will require the president's consent.

According to information provided by the National Public Prosecutor's Office, in early May prosecutor Janeczek decided in writing he will personally take over the supervision of the soldiers' case. In a statement published on the X portal, he argued, however, that he was "in no way informed about the incidents at the border or the subsequent procedural steps taken by the prosecutor".

"For many weeks, I have not been able to perform my official duties to the full extent," noted Janeczek, who was appointed to his position in November last year at the request of former justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro.

"Persons deciding on the legal situation of soldiers must be absolutely beyond reproach," Donald Tusk pointed out at the conference. He announced that he would send a letter regarding the matter to President Andrzej Duda on Friday.

"We will meet with the president on Monday at the border. I hope to obtain the required approval by then," he added.

President Duda has scheduled a meeting of the National Security Council for Monday.

The prime minister stressed that state institutions should provide officers with a sense of support and that "the possibility of using force and weapons in a situation of danger" should be "obvious" for a soldier defending the border.

In this regard, the head of government tasked the minister of defense with preparing draft legal changes so that the regulations "clearly support Polish soldiers when they use weapons in self-defense or in defense of the Polish territory."

"I am convinced that on Monday, at the government meeting, the minister will be ready with these proposals," Tusk added.

The head of government also intends to visit the military units that are currently responsible for border security. "Next week, I will be consulting mainly with ordinary soldiers to clarify these expectations regarding changes in the law," he said.

The supervision of the proceedings concerning the three detained soldiers will be taken over by National Public Prosecutor Dariusz Korneluk.

Justice Minister Adam Bodnar is also to be personally involved in the matter.

Tusk also expressed hope that everyone would draw the right conclusions from the situation. "If not, they will say goodbye to their positions. I hope these words reach all those concerned," he stressed.