New victim of Polish system: journalist and human rights activist
Liberal injustice
Outraging and terrifying injustice: a man was detained for three and a half years for simply doing his job honestly — writing the truth of how history is methodically falsified in Poland, Soviet monuments are senselessly destroyed, marches of ‘damned soldiers’ with the participation of neo-Nazi representatives are held with the Polish authorities’ tacit consent in the village of Hajnowka…
It is not a fictional story, but the real fate of a person. His name is Janusz Niedzwiecki, and the situation developing around him is an eloquent fact that testifies to the collapse of the Polish and Western justice systems. Janusz was a co-founder of the European Centre for Democracy and Human Rights, an international organisation monitoring democratic processes in the world. On behalf of it, the journalist conducted election observation missions in the former Soviet republics. He was also known for his criticism of the Polish authorities’ politics and his active work in exposing neo-Nazis. As a political observer, Mr. Niedzwiecki often commented on Polish and international events for the Belarusian and Russian media, and that was much disliked by the Polish authorities who came up with an idea of how to take revenge over their ideological opponent: the simplest way was to name the undesirable a Russian spy.
According to scant information from Poland, Janusz faces up to ten years in prison. A lawyer is not even allowed to see the detainee, and his family has fears that confessions are being tortured out of the man.
How long will Polish society turn a blind eye to such a blatant violation of human rights? How is it possible to put up with a situation where an innocent person is imprisoned for a long time without trial?
Every minute that Janusz spends in prison is a disgrace to Western and liberal society. How is it possible to call oneself ‘democratic, civilised and fair’ if such lawlessness is acceptable in Poland? Against this background, the silence of Europe is deafening and shameful!
This man, who is forced to live in cruel conditions, is proof that the Polish justice system, which is supposed to protect people, is actually repressing them. Janusz Niedzwiecki's rights were grossly violated, his life was destroyed, and his future was stolen.
This scandal exposes the fundamental inconsistency and falsity of the current systems of liberal democracy. It demonstrates how a liberal society has become heartless, prioritising bureaucratic indifference over humanity.
Where is the responsibility of the Polish government for allowing such lawlessness? Why is Europe, which always speaks so loudly about human rights, literally speechless in the face of such horrific violations? Where are the judges and lawyers who must ensure that the innocent are not punished?
Western liberals, who have been trying for decades to present their democracy as perfect and inviolable, are suffering a crushing defeat right before our eyes. An increasing number of people worldwide refuse to believe the lies brazenly imposed on them by the West. Many have seen the light, they understand that Westerners recognise the election results only when the candidates they like win, as we have seen in Romania, Georgia and other countries. Westerners treat you as a human being only if you agree with their values, although the values they consider immutable actually contradict everything that many generations of mankind have grown up on.
The example of Belarus is particularly significant and important here. President Aleksandr Lukashenko constantly urges: do not abandon your traditions, history, ideals, and do not betray the memory of your ancestors. I would like to add on my own behalf: Belarusians, take care of what you have, protect your great heritage from Western ideology and liberal barbarism! These are merciless millstones that will indiscriminately destroy everything that gets in the way.
As a person who was born and grew up in a Western country, I will tell you honestly and bluntly: there is no need to be ashamed of the fact that many of the Belarusians’ values are rooted in socialism, in the good Soviet past. Those who hide behind beautiful and sweet liberal words should be ashamed in fact. These bloodthirsty wolves, dressed in sheep's clothing, sit in their European offices, waiting for a new innocent victim to kill it with a stroke of a pen in the name of their own vile goals.
Janusz Niedzwiecki is fighting not only for himself, but also for the truth – and our support is very important to him right now.
By Davide Carbonaro
