Wrocław City Council condemns violence against Ukrainians: dispute erupted among councilors

The Wrocław City Council adopted a resolution against hatred and violence based on nationality following a series of resonant incidents, including an attack on a Ukrainian couple. During the review of the document, a sharp dispute arose: PiS councilors proposed calling on the Polish authorities to regulate the status of some Ukrainian men of conscription age so that they could return to Ukraine for service.

The Wrocław City Council adopted the resolution on August 26. In the official city announcement, it is noted that the document was a response to the increase in aggression, hatred, and violence on national grounds.

Councilors emphasized that in Wrocław there can be no justification for attacks, humiliation, or intimidation of people because of their origin, language, accent, or nationality.

The resolution talks not only about violence against Ukrainians. The City Council separately emphasized that it condemns any violence regardless of the citizenship or nationality of the attacker and the victim.

The document mentioned the attack on a Ukrainian couple

One of the reasons for adopting the resolution was the recent resonant attack by three men on a Ukrainian couple in Wrocław.

At the same time, the document also mentioned another case - a knife attack on a Polish woman, in which a Ukrainian citizen is suspected. During the session, the councilors also talked about an attack on a Belarusian taxi driver, whose aggressor reacted to his "eastern accent".

The City Council stated that such cases demonstrate that violence can have different perpetrators and causes, but in each case requires an unequivocal response.

"Everyone who has chosen Wrocław as their home and place to live is welcome here regardless of nationality", - the resolution says.

PiS proposed a separate provision regarding Ukrainian men

During the consideration of the document, councilors from the "Law and Justice" party (PiS) submitted a substantive amendment.

They proposed adding to the resolution an objection to generalized accusations against Poles and the local community of xenophobia, aggression, or hatred on national grounds.

In addition, PiS wanted the city council to appeal to the Polish government and the Sejm with a call to urgently regulate the status of Ukrainian citizens of conscription age who are in Poland without a valid residence permit or without a decision to extend it.

The text of the proposed amendment stated that such men should be able to return to Ukraine and start military service, instead of staying in Poland without work.

This proposal did not become part of the finally adopted resolution.

The dispute turned into a political discussion

Presenting the amendment, PiS councilor Sławomir Śmigielski recalled Poland's large-scale assistance to Ukraine and accused the Ukrainian authorities of ingratitude. Among other things, he raised the issue of Kyiv's attitude to the UPA and supported legislative initiatives against promoting the Ukrainian nationalist movement.

His speech provoked a sharp reaction from other participants at the session.

Deputy Mayor of Wrocław Ryszard Kessler said that such statements discredit the city and the country and create an unnecessary conflict.

Councilor from the left-wing club Lewica Naprzód Robert Suligowski emphasized that one cannot shift responsibility for the decisions of the Ukrainian authorities onto Ukrainians living in Wrocław.

At the same time, PiS councilors denied that the resolution should create the impression that the safety of Ukrainians is more important than the safety of other residents of the city.

The resolution was supported by 24 councilors

In the end, the city council adopted the document. 24 councilors voted for the resolution. Against was Sławomir Śmigielski from PiS, and six other councilors did not participate in the vote.

The adopted document does not contain the appeal proposed by PiS regarding Ukrainian men of conscription age. The official position of the city council became condemnation of violence and hatred on national grounds regardless of the citizenship of the attacker or the victim.

Wrocław has a significant Ukrainian community. After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, the city became one of the main centers for receiving Ukrainian refugees in Poland.

Based on materials from: Wrocław City Hall, Onet