Poland Constitutional Tribunal rules terms "Ukrainian nationalists" and "Eastern Little Poland" unconstitutional

The Constitutional Tribunal of Poland ruled unconstitutional the provisions of the updated law on the Institute of National Remembrance including definitions of "Ukrainian nationalists" and "Eastern Little Poland." President of Poland Andrzej Duda appealed against these provisions in February 2018. The Sejm and Poland’s Prosecutor General have the opposing view of the issue.

Censor.NET reports citing Radio Poland.

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As earlier reported, the Senate of Poland on Feb. 1 adopted without any amendments the law on the Institute of National Remembrance, which stipulates, in particular, punishment for "crimes of Ukrainian nationalists."

The bill was supported by 57 senators, mainly from the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) Party, 23 voted against the document, and two abstained. Amendments to the law envisage fines or imprisonment for up to three years for "sharing responsibility before the Polish people or the state, including for crimes committed by the Third Reich."

In addition, the document envisages punishment for denial of the "Volyn massacre" and the use of the expression "Polish death camps" in relation to the camps that were located in Poland during the Second World War.

Feb. 6, President Duda signed changes to the law on the Institute of National Remembrance. Thus, the amendments passed earlier by the Sejm came into effect. At the same time, Duda said that in practical terms it may be impossible to punish those who violate the new law, especially, if the violations take place outside of Poland.

At the same time, Duda ruled to check the new document for compliance with the Polish Constitution, including the words "Ukrainian nationalists" and the words "Eastern Little Poland." He also said that he would approach the Constitutional Tribunal of Poland with a request to give an assessment to the new amendments.

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Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko has hailed the decision by the Constitutional Tribunal of Poland to recognize as unconstitutional such terms as "Ukrainian nationalists," "Eastern Little Poland" in the law on the Polish Institute of National Remembrance and thanked his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda for initiating this undertaking.