Polish Sejm votes in favor of ban on 'Bandera Propaganda'
The Polish Sejm voted on Friday to amend a law on the Institute of National Memory to introduce punishment for so-called “Bandera propaganda”. The amendment stipulates a fine or imprisonment for up to 3 years for the denial of crimes committed by Ukrainian nationalists, reports Onet.pl.
The amendment refers to actions related to the use of "violence, terror or other forms of human rights violations against individuals or groups of people” that occurred in the time period between 1925 and 1950. More specifically, it refers to the participation of Ukrainian nationalists in the extermination of Jews and killing of Poles in Volhynia and neighboring regions.
The legislation was supported by 279 out of 414 deputies, including the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) Party, Kukiz'15, and the Polish Peasant Party (PSL). Five MPs voted against it. Nearly the entire Civic Platform (PO) Party faction abstained.
The law extends not only to the Poles, but also to citizens of other coiuntries, regardless of the laws in force in the territory where an act of "Bandera propaganda" takes place.
The legislation still requires approval from the Polish Senate.
In December 2017, the presidents of Poland and Ukraine met in Kharkiv to reduce tension that had arisen in recent months amidst disagreements over the interpretation of historical events