Polish Border Guards Granted Permission to Use Weapons Against Illegal Immigrants

The President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, has signed a law that allows soldiers stationed at the border to use weapons against illegal migrants. This was reported by Armenpress, referencing the RIA Novosti agency. In a conversation with journalists, the Chief of Staff of the President of Poland, Malgorzata Paprocka, shared this information.

“President Andrzej Duda has signed a law to support the actions of soldiers and other service personnel at the border,” said Paprocka, adding that the law “will provide an opportunity to better and more effectively protect the border, including enhancing the safety of the Polish soldier.”

The Polish parliament approved the law in July. It allows the military to operate independently at the border during peacetime, not just for border protection and to assist the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The law defines the concept of “military action” conducted within the country during peacetime.

The law also includes provisions in the Criminal Code that eliminate liability for actions taken under specific circumstances. This refers to the use of weapons or direct coercive measures by soldiers or officers defending the border in violation of rules if these measures were used to repel direct assaults on the soldier's or another person’s life, health, or freedom, as well as to counter actions aimed at such assaults.

The necessity to change the legislation regarding the use of weapons by soldiers arose after a Polish soldier was killed at the border with Belarus by an illegal migrant attempting to cross the border.