Statement by Belarus MFA regarding wounding of Belarusian citizen in Poland

20 May 2026

On 12 May 2026, a Belarusian citizen sustained a gunshot wound in Poland.

According to received information, Polish law enforcement officers mistook a group of Belarusians for members of a criminal group, which led to the use of weapons.

This incident raises serious doubts about the actual level of security declared by the Polish side. In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that citizens of Belarus take such risks into account when planning travel abroad: as practice shows, it cannot be ruled out that a law-abiding citizen could be mistaken for an offender and subjected to a disproportionate use of force.

At the same time, we welcome the initiation of investigative actions by the Prosecutor’s Office of Poland and the classification of the incident as an abuse of official authority. We expect an objective investigation, the identification of those responsible and their being brought to justice.

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Выступление Министра М.Рыженкова на открытых дебатах Совета Безопасности ООН // Statement by Minister M.Ryzhenkov at the open debate of the UN Security Council