OSCE and US State Department criticized the Polish law on 'Bandera ideology' but Russia supported it
The law "On the Institute of National Memory" that was approved by the Polish Senate limits the freedom of speech, stated the representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on media freedom, Harlem Désir.
The Polish Sejm recently approved a law banning the propaganda of the so-called "Bandera ideology.” The law would make it possible to initiate criminal proceedings against individuals who deny the guilt of Ukrainian nationalists for crimes against the Poles. For this, a person can be fined or be imprisoned for up to three years. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine condemned the law passed by the Sejm.
"The law should be rejected as a disproportionate restriction on freedom of speech. Public statements can be the cause of criminal liability only if they call for violence or discrimination," he said. Désir worries because the law introduces criminal responsibility for public statements on historical issues.
"We are well aware of sensitive moments regarding historical events, and freedom of speech has a special significance for historians and scholars. History is a matter of independent scientific research and free discussion, not a judicial decision," the OSCE representative believes.
Désir hopes that the president of Poland, Andrzej Duda, "vetoes to protect freedom of expression." At the same time, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said the department had already warned Poland that a bill could have consequences for the development of bilateral relations.
"The history of the Holocaust is painful and complicated. We understand that such phrases as ‘Polish death camps’ are inaccurate, deceptive and offensive. However, we are concerned that, if adopted, this draft law may undermine freedom of speech and academic discourse. We must all be careful not to interfere with the discussion and comments on the Holocaust. We believe that open discussion, knowledge and education are the best means to counter inaccurate and offensive statements," the statement said.
The US also worries that the adoption of the bill may affect Polish strategic interests and relations and lead to disagreements between the allies, particularly with the United States, and that this is only in the interests of the opponents. "We call on Poland to review the legislation regarding its potential impact on the principles of freedom of speech and on our ability to be effective partners," Nauert said.
On the other hand, Russia supported Poland's attempts to ban the "Bandera ideology" but called on Warsaw to abandon its own nationalism and "open Russophobia," RIA Novosti reported.
"The law is selective. Alien nationalism is sharply condemned, propaganda of Bandera ideology becomes a criminal offense, with which we, of course, cannot disagree. At the same time, people pretend that there is no "one's own" nationalism, one of the manifestations of which presently is an open Russophobia," Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Defense and Security Committee Franz Klintsevich said. He stressed that both types of nationalism "are equally dangerous for the Polish society."