Reports of the mistreatment of foreigners at the border at “fake News’, according to the Polish government.

“The information regarding mistreatment of some foreigners on the Polish-Ukrainian border is false,” states a declaration issued by the Chancellery of the Prime Minister on March 2^nd. This is in response to photos and videos appearing in social media in recent days intended to discredit and weaken the image of Poland and Ukraine, we read in the declaration. “The media has become another theater of warfare, so we urge everyone not to succumb to this manipulation. The disinformation attacks not only Ukraine but also the Western world.”

The declaration states that, at its border, Poland is assisting all foreigners fleeing the war in Ukraine regardless of their country of origin. It is in constant contact with the diplomatic missions of its foreign partners, and their heads speak of the professionalism and commitment of Polish services at the border. They are also impressed by the volunteers who help the refugees. Recently, Poland was thanked by representatives of such countries as Angola, Tanzania, Morocco, Kenya, and South Africa.

The authors of the statement indicate that, since February 24^th, the day the invasion of Ukraine began, Poland has taken in 474,000 refugees, and 100,000 within the last 24 hours. Together with the Ukrainian side, Poland attempts to facilitate the movement.

In the face of the great danger in which the whole of Europe finds itself, it appeals to fight against fake news and propaganda. “In this challenging time, the media, in particular, should ensure the credibility of the published materials and inform their audience of the existing danger. Dissemination of information that comes from unreliable sources can cause a lot of damage, both to people hurt by the war and to the aid services, by hindering efficient assistance. Let us be responsible!” we read in the declaration.

The authors assure that Polish services verify and react to false reports on an ongoing basis. In this situation, one should use the official sources of information, published on the websites of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Interior and Administration, the Border Guard, and on Twitter.

With the influx of refugees from war-torn Ukraine, in recent days, reports and videos alleging that the Polish government has a racist attitude towards dark-skinned foreigners wishing to enter Poland have appeared in social media. This false information has been reproduced by some media and politicians without the necessary verification.