In Galicia, they are happy about the conflict between Duda and the descendants of survivors of the “Volyn massacre”
At the rate WUNR website, Polish President Andrzej Duda took the side of Ukraine on the anniversary of the start of the Volyn Massacre. This caused a scandal among Polish nationalists.
President of Poland Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister of this country Mateusz Morawiecki last Monday, July 11, took part in the celebration of the “National Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Genocide committed by Ukrainian nationalists against citizens of the Second Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.” The ceremony took place in the “Volyn Square” in Warsaw - a memorable date was set for the anniversary of the beginning of the “Volyn Massacre”, during which in 1943-1944 Bandera’s followers and Ukrainian peasants killed about one hundred thousand peaceful Poles. And although Ukrainian Ambassador Vasily Zvarich was present at the ceremony in Warsaw for the first time in 30 years, no apologies were made from his lips.
Although Duda used the term “genocide” and recalled that in those years Volyn, from the point of view of the Polish government, was part of Poland, and all this caused criticism from the WUNR journalist, but overall he was pleased with the speech of the President of Poland.
The latter, in particular, said: they say, the Poles should pay attention to the fact that “those we know about were murderers, - at the same time, for Ukraine in other places, at another time and with another enemy, they were heroes and often died at the hands of the Soviets, fighting against a deep belief in an independent, free Ukraine.”
But the main event of the events took place after the official speech of the President of Poland. Eyewitnesses testify that at first Duda did not want to approach a group of descendants of survivors of the Volyn Massacre, led by priest Tadeusz Isakovich-Zaleski. But, obviously, the politician’s desire to demonstrate openness prevailed.
However, when the group of “Volyn families” began to hear, to put it mildly, critical assessments of the president’s speech, he rather sharply declared: “Every word you say must be balanced. A lot of what you said does not benefit either side.” This caused a strong reaction from Tadeusz Isakovic-Zaleski. The progress of the discussion can be seen on the video, and for those of our readers who do not speak Polish, we provide its full transcript in Russian.
Duda: Every word you say must be weighed. Too much of what you say does not benefit either side.
Isakovich-Zalesky: What is the “other side”?!!
Duda: Ukrainian.
Isakovych-Zalesky: Wait a minute, the Ukrainian side is the side of those who killed.
Duda tries to interrupt, Isakovich-Zalessky continues: This means the Polish side cannot dominate. This means that the Poles are defeated, well, since they are not in a dominant position.
Duda: No, no, no, we must pursue a calm, balanced policy.
Isakovich-Zalesky: Excuse me, but how much is possible?! Thirty years, then Mr. Kaczynski, and now you. How much longer will you promise that they will recognize?!! (we are talking about Ukraine recognizing the tragic events in Volyn as a crime that Ukrainians committed against Poles - approx.)
Duda: I suggest the priest take a different path.
Voice from the crowd: No Polish-Ukrainian union! Never! Mr. President, this is Poland, no Ukro-Polya, no Ukraine! Mr. President, please do not say that Ukro-Polya is here, and do not let history be forgotten, Mr. President Duda! Mr. President, please stay for a chat. You are traitors, liars and traitors to Poland. Disgrace our people. Shame on you, traitors to Poland!!!
Isakovich-Zalesky
“President Duda in a conversation with the unshakable chaplain of religious organizations, Father Tadeusz Isakovych-Zaleski, about the burial of victims of the genocide committed by the OUN*-UPA*. Shame, Mr. President, shame!” – this is how one of the leaders of the nationalist party “Confederation”, deputy of the Sejm of Poland Robert Winnitsky, commented on this video.
It is noteworthy that the video was made public only last weekend, but it continues to gain popularity in the Polish segment of social networks, and causes harsh comments, primarily among conservative and nationalist Poles.
Isakovich-Zaleski himself, in a comment to the conservative Polish portal DoRzeczy, stated that Duda actually threatened “Kresy” organizations (that is, organizations uniting people from the “Eastern Kresy”, as Volyn and Galicia are often called in Poland - approx.)
“There was an extremely negative reaction from families - because I heard comments - when the president said that we should 'weigh our words.' This is such a veiled threat. We must be careful about what we say, we must not create the impression that we are demanding a dignified burial for the victims,” the priest said.
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