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Polish Justice Minister and Prosecutor General Adam Bodnar believes that the access roads to the Ukrainian-Polish border should be considered part of critical infrastructure and must not be blocked.
In an interview with Ukrinform, Bodnar was asked to comment on the ongoing protests by transporters and farmers at the Polish-Ukrainian border over the past year.
He was reminded of the recent statement by Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, who said that the scale of these protests should be analyzed, along with whether court rulings permitting protests on the roads near the border are justified. At the same time, Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized that border crossings and their access roads should be protected as critical infrastructure.
Bodnar highlighted that the key issue in this matter is the term “critical infrastructure.”
“I believe that the access roads to the border should be part of critical infrastructure and should not be blocked, because it harms everyone. In a democratic country, we have a range of other mechanisms for protest,” he stated.
He pointed out that the European Court of Human Rights has a well-known case, Kudrevičius and Others v. Lithuania, where the court ruled that road blockages are not protected as a form of acceptable protest.
“There cannot be a situation where a minority uses certain infrastructure or technical situations to make life difficult for the majority,” emphasized the Polish Minister of Justice.
He also noted that the right to assemble peacefully is available to all who wish to protest.
“However, we should strive to ensure that roads remain accessible and passable. This applies to both access roads to the border and roads in city centers,” Bodnar added.
When asked whether court rulings allowing protests at the border could be expected, Bodnar replied that he has no expectations from courts in any case.
“Certainly, the Polish government will closely monitor the actions of local authorities regarding their obligations to organize local protests. And will demand the protection of critical infrastructure at all times,” concluded the Polish Minister.
Background:
Polish farmers began protesting in Medyka near the border with Ukraine on November 23, 2024, due to concerns about the European Union signing a free trade agreement with South American countries (Mercosur). The protests were later suspended. During their protests, the farmers also cited the supposed excessive influx of Ukrainian goods.
The previous blockade by farmers, which lasted throughout the cold season, ended in late April 2024 with the lifting of the last blockade at the “Hrebienne – Rava-Ruska” checkpoint.
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