Poland has vowed to impose sanctions on “hundreds” of officials from neighboring Belarus after the Belarusian Supreme Court upheld an eight-year prison sentence against journalist Andrzej Poczobut.
In February, a court in the western Belarusian city of Grodno sentenced Poczobut, a Polish-Belarusian journalist and activist, to eight years in “a maximum security penal colony” on charges of “fomenting hatred” and “acting to the detriment of Belarus.”
As previously reported by the Polish Press Agency (PAP), Poczobut appealed against the verdict, and the case went to the Supreme Court in Belarus.
In a behind-closed-doors hearing yesterday, which took place without Poczobut’s presence, the Belarusian Supreme Court rejected the appeal and upheld the original verdict, which is now final.
Poland’s Foreign Ministry has called the charges politically motivated and appealed again to the government of Belarus for the “release of all political prisoners and an end to repression.”
In addition to proposed sanctions, Poland’s Interior Ministry said on Friday it would suspend “until further notice” all freight traffic through the border with Belarus for trucks, tractor-trailers, and trailers registered in Belarus and Russia, according to PAP.
Source: Polskie Radio, Radio Gdańsk
Poland’s parliament has given the final green light to a plan to establish a special panel for investigating Russian influence in Polish politics.
The draft law, proposed by the ruling conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, passed on a vote of 234 to 219 in the Sejm on Friday afternoon.
It now needs approval from President Andrzej Duda to go into effect.
The investigative commission proposed in the legislation would assess various areas for suspected “Russian influence,” such as administrative decisions, information sharing with third parties, and the management of public funds.
The commission would possess the authority to cancel certain administrative decisions, impose a 10-year ban on individuals managing public funds, and revoke or ban individuals from obtaining security clearances.
Proponents say the bill is needed “to strengthen the constitution and sovereignty” of Poland. Critics say it is designed to target opposition politicians, such as former Prime Minister Donald Tusk, ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. Tusk is currently the leader of the Civic Coalition, Poland’s largest political opposition group.
Source: Polskie Radio
Five ships belonging to the navies of the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and Poland docked yesterday morning at the Port of Gdynia.
The ships make up the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 – SNMG1, which is tasked with monitoring and ensuring the safety of shipping routes in the Baltic Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Polish missile frigate ORP Gen. T. Kościuszko and the Spanish missile frigate ESPS Alvaro De Bazan are currently moored at the Gdynia Naval Port, while the German frigate FGS Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the Portuguese frigate NRP Bartolomeu Dias are docked at the French Quay.
The Dutch missile frigate HNLMS Van Amstel is moored at the United States Quay.
The vessels will replenish their supplies and then set sail from Gdynia on May 30, according to Lieutenant Commander Anna Sech, a spokesperson for Poland’s 3rd Ship Flotilla (3 Flotylla Okrętów).
Source: Radio Gdańsk, PAP
The seaside resort town of Łeba has been hosting some unusual guests over the past week, as several moose have been spotted roaming the beach and harbor.
While the moose (also called European elk) spotted in Łeba have not behaved aggressively, experts advise tourists to keep their distance.
The animals, especially females with young calves, can be aggressive under certain conditions. Males can weigh up to 475 kg (roughly 1000 lbs) and run faster than most humans, with speeds from 30 km up to 60 km (18-37 miles) per hour.
Despite looking somewhat slow and clumsy, moose can also jump over obstacles such as fences over one and a half meters (6 ft) high.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, nwfps.org
Today is the last day for the Lost Culture Festival at the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk and the last chance to see an exhibit and play by Polish writer Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz.
The exhibit “Witkacy – a lost work” officially closes today, followed by a performance of his monodrama “Mother” (Matka) performed by the Australian-based Kropka Theater.
Admission to both events is free. More information is available at festiwalkulturyutraconej.pl.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Weather
Today will be mostly sunny, with almost no chance of rain and a light breeze coming from the northeast. Temperatures will be similar to yesterday, with a daytime high of 18°C or 64°F, dropping to a low of 8°C or 46°F overnight. Similar weather is expected tomorrow, with more sun and higher temps expected next week.
Elizabeth Peck/aKa
