Poland is at risk of becoming “undemocratic”,&nbsp;human rights chief Adam Bodnar recently said. Bodnar criticised the European Union for its slow response to the violations of law under the current Polish government.

In conversation with news agency AFP, Bodnar said that the people in power are "trying to incapacitate or take over additional power mechanisms one by one". A recent ruling from the Constitutional Court in the country ordered him to quit his post within weeks.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/women-in-poland-struggle-to-find-doctors-to-help-them-372218/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Currently, the Law and Justice (PiS) party is in power in the country where it has remained since 2015. According to the 44-year-old law professor, the party is marginalising the parliament’s role, while adding that it had “brought to heel the Constitutional Court, the prosecutor’s office, public media” along with certain “judicial institutions”.

For the last few years, the European Commission has attempted to bring Poland back in line with what it considers democratic ideals.

According to Bodnar, the EU had made some strong executive decisions that improved the realties on ground in Poland, but noted a shift since Ursula von der Leyen became the Commission’s president in 2019.

In pics:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/photos/poland-assemble-warsaw-residents-organise-biggest-protest-against-abortion-rules-339234" hreflang="en">Poland assemble: Warsaw residents organise biggest protest against abortion rules</a>

"I get the sense that there has been this constant search for a supposed compromise, consensus and dialogue with the Polish government... which hasn't really accomplished anything," he told AFP.

"Meanwhile the government used that time to introduce and solidify changes and to increasingly strive toward pushing the boundaries regarding the subordination of the judiciary," he added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/poland-media-outlets-observe-blackout-to-protest-new-ad-tax-362641" hreflang="en">Poland: Media outlets observe blackout to protest new ad tax</a>

The PiS has accused Bodnar of being biased and favouring the opposition. According to the party, its reforms are necessary to stop corruption in the country and to eliminate remnants of communism from its judicial system.

(With inputs from agencies)

Poland is at risk of becoming “undemocratic”, human rights chief Adam Bodnar recently said. Bodnar criticised the European Union for its slow response to the violations of law under the current Polish government.

Poland is at risk of becoming “undemocratic”, human rights chief Adam Bodnar recently said. Bodnar criticised the European Union for its slow response to the violations of law under the current Polish government. In conversation with news agency AFP, Bodnar said that the people in power are "trying to incapacitate or take over additional power mechanisms one by one". A recent ruling from the Constitutional Court in the country ordered him to quit his post within weeks. Currently, the Law and Justice (PiS) party is in power in the country where it has remained since 2015. According to the 44-year-old law professor, the party is marginalising the parliament’s role, while adding that it had “brought to heel the Constitutional Court, the prosecutor’s office, public media” along with certain “judicial institutions”. For the last few years, the European Commission has attempted to bring Poland back in line with what it considers democratic ideals. According to Bodnar, the EU had made some strong executive decisions that improved the realties on ground in Poland, but noted a shift since Ursula von der Leyen became the Commission’s president in 2019. In pics: Poland assemble: Warsaw residents organise biggest protest against abortion rules "I get the sense that there has been this constant search for a supposed compromise, consensus and dialogue with the Polish government... which hasn't really accomplished anything," he told AFP. "Meanwhile the government used that time to introduce and solidify changes and to increasingly strive toward pushing the boundaries regarding the subordination of the judiciary," he added. Also read: Poland: Media outlets observe blackout to protest new ad tax The PiS has accused Bodnar of being biased and favouring the opposition. According to the party, its reforms are necessary to stop corruption in the country and to eliminate remnants of communism from its judicial system. (With inputs from agencies)

Poland is becoming 'undemocratic', warns human rights chief who was recently ordered to quit

Researchers examining an ancient Egyptian mummy discovered that it was that of a woman who had been seven months pregnant. It was a discovery that shocked Wojciech Ejsmond, the lead author of the study.

“I was speechless because we didn’t expect such a discovery,” he said. “The pregnancy was a complete surprise.”

This is the world's first known case of such a well-preserved ancient mummy of a pregnant woman said researchers on Thursday. The scans reveal the woman was 28 weeks into her pregnancy — about seven months — when she died.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="‘That’s a lot of teeth’: Researchers discover 2.5 billion Tyrannosaurus rex">‘That’s a lot of teeth’: Researchers discover 2.5 billion Tyrannosaurus rex</a>

The mummy was donated to Warsaw in 1826 and the inscription on the coffin named a male priest. No previous examination had disproved the belief that it was a male.

Marzena Ozarek-Szilke, an anthropologist and archeologist while examining said, "When we saw the little foot and then the little hand (of the fetus), we were shocked."

When anthropologist Marzena Ozarek-Szilke was observing CT scans and X-rays of the pelvis area, she saw some anomalies and some "weird-looking objects inside." Ozarek-Szilke told the Associated Press, "Our first surprise was that it has no penis, but instead it has breasts and long hair, and then we found out it was a pregnant woman."

Researchers while observing the size of the baby’s skull suggested she was 26 to 28 weeks pregnant. On further investigation, Ozarek found the remains of a fetus that had been left intact in the uterus and mummified together with its mother, who is thought to be in her 20s.

Their findings from the Warsaw Mummy Project of years of tests on this were published this week in the Journal of Archaeological Science.

"We do not know why the foetus was not taken out of the belly of the deceased during mummification," Ejsmond said.

Researchers thought the mummified individual was a man because it was found in a male coffin. That is why scientists believe "mummy is truly unique."

The excellent amount of emballing suggests that the woman was buried with a large amount of jewelry and she belonged to a wealthy family. Her identity is not known as the mummy has not been opened.

However, based on scans scientists rule out the woman had curly hair down to her shoulders.

(With inputs from agencies)

Researchers examining an ancient Egyptian mummy discovered that it was that of a woman who had been seven months pregnant. It was a discovery that shocked Wojciech Ejsmond, the lead author of the study.

Researchers examining an ancient Egyptian mummy discovered that it was that of a woman who had been seven months pregnant. It was a discovery that shocked Wojciech Ejsmond, the lead author of the study. “I was speechless because we didn’t expect such a discovery,” he said. “The pregnancy was a complete surprise.” This is the world's first known case of such a well-preserved ancient mummy of a pregnant woman said researchers on Thursday. The scans reveal the woman was 28 weeks into her pregnancy — about seven months — when she died. Also read: ‘That’s a lot of teeth’: Researchers discover 2.5 billion Tyrannosaurus rex The mummy was donated to Warsaw in 1826 and the inscription on the coffin named a male priest. No previous examination had disproved the belief that it was a male. Marzena Ozarek-Szilke, an anthropologist and archeologist while examining said, "When we saw the little foot and then the little hand (of the fetus), we were shocked." When anthropologist Marzena Ozarek-Szilke was observing CT scans and X-rays of the pelvis area, she saw some anomalies and some "weird-looking objects inside." Ozarek-Szilke told the Associated Press, "Our first surprise was that it has no penis, but instead it has breasts and long hair, and then we found out it was a pregnant woman." Researchers while observing the size of the baby’s skull suggested she was 26 to 28 weeks pregnant. On further investigation, Ozarek found the remains of a fetus that had been left intact in the uterus and mummified together with its mother, who is thought to be in her 20s. Their findings from the Warsaw Mummy Project of years of tests on this were published this week in the Journal of Archaeological Science. "We do not know why the foetus was not taken out of the belly of the deceased during mummification," Ejsmond said. Researchers thought the mummified individual was a man because it was found in a male coffin. That is why scientists believe "mummy is truly unique." The excellent amount of emballing suggests that the woman was buried with a large amount of jewelry and she belonged to a wealthy family. Her identity is not known as the mummy has not been opened. However, based on scans scientists rule out the woman had curly hair down to her shoulders. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists discover Egyptian mummy of a 28-weeks pregnant woman

Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski has been ruled out for four weeks after sustaining a sprained ligament in his right knee during a &nbsp;World Cup qualifying match against Andorra, the club said on Tuesday.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bale-willing-to-boycott-social-media-over-abuse-of-footballers-374122" hreflang="en">Bale willing to boycott social media over abuse of footballers</a>

Poland skipper was ruled out of the match against England on Wednesday and underwent scans on Monday.&nbsp;

Lewandowski's absence comes as a big blow for Bayern as they are set to travel to RB Leipzig on Saturday. Leipzig are second-placed in Bundesliga. The star striker is set to miss out on both legs of the Champions League quarter-finals against Paris St. Germain. These legs are set to take place on April 7 and April 13.

The Poland striker continued his sublime form this season too as he scored 42 goals in all competitions, which includes 35 league goals. He was set to break former German legend Gerd Mueller's 1971-72 Bundesliga season record of 40 league goals.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, Lewandowski climbed to second place in the Bundesliga all-time scorers list after scoring 271 goals in the league. He is behind Mueller, who had a stunning record of 365 goals.&nbsp;

Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski has been ruled out for four weeks after sustaining a sprained ligament in his right knee during a World Cup qualifying match against Andorra, the club said on Tuesday.

Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski has been ruled out for four weeks after sustaining a sprained ligament in his right knee during a World Cup qualifying match against Andorra, the club said on Tuesday. ALSO READ: Bale willing to boycott social media over abuse of footballers Poland skipper was ruled out of the match against England on Wednesday and underwent scans on Monday. Lewandowski's absence comes as a big blow for Bayern as they are set to travel to RB Leipzig on Saturday. Leipzig are second-placed in Bundesliga. The star striker is set to miss out on both legs of the Champions League quarter-finals against Paris St. Germain. These legs are set to take place on April 7 and April 13. The Poland striker continued his sublime form this season too as he scored 42 goals in all competitions, which includes 35 league goals. He was set to break former German legend Gerd Mueller's 1971-72 Bundesliga season record of 40 league goals. Earlier this month, Lewandowski climbed to second place in the Bundesliga all-time scorers list after scoring 271 goals in the league. He is behind Mueller, who had a stunning record of 365 goals.

Robert Lewandowski ruled out for four weeks after sustaining knee injury

The pandemic not only took lives due to the deadly virus but also put several lives in danger due to extended lockdowns which brought an alarming increase in domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Krysia Paszko, a 17-year-old girl from Poland, saw a similar report about the surge in domestic violence cases in Europe and decided to do her bit in helping such victims.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-reauthorises-violence-against-women-act-371268" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-reauthorises-violence-against-women-act-371268&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwikyNeX1cvvAhWgzTgGHcmfBMk4ChAWMAJ6BAgJEAI&amp;usg=AOvVaw3Zs8ZMbtMe9ElRwOwBWTB0" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-reauthorises-violence-against-women-act-371268" target="_blank">US House reauthorises&nbsp;Violence&nbsp;Against Women Act</a>

Quick research made her aware of France's new policy which urged victims to say "Mask 19" at any pharmacy and get immediate and discreet help. Working on the same idea, Paszko created a Facebook page to do her bit.

Paszko sought help from a graphic designer friend and created a Facebook page of a fake cosmetics company.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/photos/men-do-better-londoners-hold-vigil-for-sarah-everard-police-revolts-370400" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/photos/men-do-better-londoners-hold-vigil-for-sarah-everard-police-revolts-370400&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwikyNeX1cvvAhWgzTgGHcmfBMk4ChAWMAl6BAgFEAI&amp;usg=AOvVaw0rCPlr-bY2zrNQk5s6SgUI" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/men-do-better-londoners-hold-vigil-for-sarah-everard-police-revolts-370400" target="_blank">'Men, do better': Londoners hold vigil for Sarah Everard</a>

In this initiative, the victims can ask for natural cosmetics and the volunteers will start monitoring the users who message on the page. As soon as the victim messages 'STOP', the volunteers will call the police for urgent help.

"If you are in quarantine or isolation with a toxic or violent person, send a message," she wrote on her personal Facebook page, along with the link to the page of the fictitious company.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/one-in-three-women-have-already-suffered-physical-violence-world-health-organization-369207" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/one-in-three-women-have-already-suffered-physical-violence-world-health-organization-369207&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjnntir1cvvAhWMyjgGHRQ1Dao4FBAWMAR6BAgGEAI&amp;usg=AOvVaw2jjP7sYb3avyvQuLsi-L2G" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/one-in-three-women-have-already-suffered-physical-violence-world-health-organization-369207" target="_blank">One in three women have already suffered physical&nbsp;violence</a>

As people started sharing the page, Paszko started receiving hundreds of messages through that page, which was shared more than a thousand times.

The response was so overwhelming that the 17-year-old social worker had to contact Centrum Praw Kobiet (CPK), Poland's largest women's rights centre, for assistance.

Paszko also coded a system that determines the type of assistance needed by the victims whose social media activity is monitored by their abusive partners.

"What surprised me is that you can say nearly everything using the code," she said.

The pandemic not only took lives due to the deadly virus but also put several lives in danger due to extended lockdowns which brought an alarming increase in domestic violence and sexual abuse.

The pandemic not only took lives due to the deadly virus but also put several lives in danger due to extended lockdowns which brought an alarming increase in domestic violence and sexual abuse. Krysia Paszko, a 17-year-old girl from Poland, saw a similar report about the surge in domestic violence cases in Europe and decided to do her bit in helping such victims. Also read | US House reauthorises Violence Against Women Act Quick research made her aware of France's new policy which urged victims to say "Mask 19" at any pharmacy and get immediate and discreet help. Working on the same idea, Paszko created a Facebook page to do her bit. Paszko sought help from a graphic designer friend and created a Facebook page of a fake cosmetics company. Also read | 'Men, do better': Londoners hold vigil for Sarah Everard In this initiative, the victims can ask for natural cosmetics and the volunteers will start monitoring the users who message on the page. As soon as the victim messages 'STOP', the volunteers will call the police for urgent help. "If you are in quarantine or isolation with a toxic or violent person, send a message," she wrote on her personal Facebook page, along with the link to the page of the fictitious company. Also read | One in three women have already suffered physical violence As people started sharing the page, Paszko started receiving hundreds of messages through that page, which was shared more than a thousand times. The response was so overwhelming that the 17-year-old social worker had to contact Centrum Praw Kobiet (CPK), Poland's largest women's rights centre, for assistance. Paszko also coded a system that determines the type of assistance needed by the victims whose social media activity is monitored by their abusive partners. "What surprised me is that you can say nearly everything using the code," she said.

'Say STOP': 17-year-old makes fake Facebook page to help women flee abuse

Poland already had some of the strictest abortion laws in Europe, but new changes have effectively banned them completely.

Women in Poland struggle to find doctors to help them

The nationwide lockdown has been announced in Poland as the country battles a surge in COVID-19 cases. Poland has decided to go on a 3-week partial lockdown.

Poland: Country declares partial lockdown as COVID-19 cases spike

A Polish zoo has celebrated the birth of a bear cuscus, saying it is the only zoological garden in the world that has successfully bred the marsupial species.

Polish zoo celebrates birth of rare marsupial bear cuscus

COVID-19 infection rates in Poland have subsided in recent weeks. This has prompted the government to relax some of the restrictions allowing for some leisure facilities to reopen. Will the country witness 3rd pandemic wave?

Coronavirus Update: Will Poland witness 3rd pandemic wave?

The leader of the Polish women's strike, the movement that led to mass countrywide protests against a near-total abortion ban in Poland, has been accused of criminal hooliganism.

Poland: Protests erupt against abortion ban, leader charged with 'insulting police'

Main private channel in Poland along with radio stations and newspapers observed a media blackout to protest against a proposed tax for non-state outlets. Poland's main news channel TVN participated in the move in opposition to the advertising tax. Newspapers carried blank front pages.

"This is where your favourite programme was supposed to be," read a white message on a black background on the TVN24 news channel. 
In a statement to AFP, the channel, owned by the US group Discovery, said the government proposal had "the intention of restricting their pluralism and freedom of expression".

The front pages of dozens of national newspapers including the most widely read dailies Fakt and Gazeta Wyborcza had a message in white on a black background reading "Media Without Choice".

Their websites were also blacked out.

Radio stations also suspended service, with Radio Zet informing its listeners that the tax would mean "liquidation for some media businesses".

"There is no free country without independent media. There is no freedom without freedom of choice," the radio station said.

The new tax, which is expected to take effect later this year, imposes a levy on advertising revenues of television and radio broadcasters, print outlets and internet media companies.

State media are exempt from the tax.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said the tax is part of Europe-wide efforts to tax global tech giants like Google or Facebook but many independent media outlets say they would be unfairly targeted too.

(With AFP inputs)

Main private channel in Poland along with radio stations and newspapers observed a media blackout to protest against a proposed tax for non-state outlets. Poland's main news channel TVN participated in the move in opposition to the advertising tax.

Main private channel in Poland along with radio stations and newspapers observed a media blackout to protest against a proposed tax for non-state outlets. Poland's main news channel TVN participated in the move in opposition to the advertising tax. Newspapers carried blank front pages. "This is where your favourite programme was supposed to be," read a white message on a black background on the TVN24 news channel. In a statement to AFP, the channel, owned by the US group Discovery, said the government proposal had "the intention of restricting their pluralism and freedom of expression". The front pages of dozens of national newspapers including the most widely read dailies Fakt and Gazeta Wyborcza had a message in white on a black background reading "Media Without Choice". Their websites were also blacked out. Radio stations also suspended service, with Radio Zet informing its listeners that the tax would mean "liquidation for some media businesses". "There is no free country without independent media. There is no freedom without freedom of choice," the radio station said. The new tax, which is expected to take effect later this year, imposes a levy on advertising revenues of television and radio broadcasters, print outlets and internet media companies. State media are exempt from the tax. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said the tax is part of Europe-wide efforts to tax global tech giants like Google or Facebook but many independent media outlets say they would be unfairly targeted too. (With AFP inputs)

Poland: Media outlets observe blackout to protest new ad tax

Germany, Sweden and Poland on Monday each threw out a Russian diplomat in retaliation for Moscow's expulsion last week of their diplomats for allegedly taking part in protests in support of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

The three EU countries announced the tit-for-tat moves in coordinated statements, drawing an angry response from Russia which accused them of meddling in its internal affairs.

The diplomatic spat comes at a time of heightened tensions between the European Union and Russia, exacerbated by the arrest and jailing of leading opposition figure Navalny.

Russia humiliated the European Union on Friday by announcing the expulsions during a rare meeting in Moscow between EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

European governments strongly condemned the shock expulsions, with Berlin warning that it would respond in kind.

Moscow's decision to expel the three diplomats "was in no way justified", the German foreign ministry said Monday, adding that the German staff member had been&nbsp;doing his job of "observing developments in Russia by lawful means".

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde said Stockholm had "informed the Russian ambassador that a person from the Russian embassy is asked to leave Sweden".&nbsp;

"This is a clear response to the unacceptable decision to expel a Swedish diplomat who was only performing his duties," she wrote on Twitter.

The Polish foreign ministry likewise condemned the "groundless expulsion" of a Polish diplomat from Saint Petersburg and said it had declared "persona non grata" a Russian consular official in Poznan, western Poland.

The Russian foreign ministry immediately hit back.

"Today's decisions by Poland, Germany and Sweden are unfounded, unfriendly and are a continuation of the very series of actions that the West is taking with regard to our country and which we qualify as interference in our internal affairs," spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on state channel Rossiya 1.

- 'Reviving relations' -

The Kremlin earlier on Monday defended the expulsion of the EU diplomats during Borrell's high-profile visit, and insisted it remained interested in reviving relations with Brussels.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the declaration of the three foreign diplomats as personae non gratae was a "consequence of the actions of some diplomatic missions in Moscow against the backdrop of illegal riots".&nbsp;

Peskov added that Moscow did not initiate "the collapse" of the relationship with the EU.&nbsp;

"Russia has been and remains interested in reviving relations between Moscow and Brussels," he told reporters.

Navalny, a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, was arrested upon arrival in Moscow on January 17 after spending several months in Germany recovering from a poisoning attack the West believes was ordered by the Kremlin.

He was jailed for nearly three years last week for violating parole conditions while in Germany.

Tens of thousands of Russians have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest against Putin's 20-year rule and demand Navalny's release, triggering a fierce police crackdown on demonstrators.

Western leaders too have called for Navalny to be freed immediately.

Russia has bristled at the international backing for Navalny, accusing Europe and the United States of interfering in its domestic affairs.

The EU's Borrell is expected to meet with foreign ministers from the 27 member states on February 22 to discuss fresh sanctions against Moscow that would require a unanimous vote among the EU members.

Germany, Sweden and Poland on Monday each threw out a Russian diplomat in retaliation for Moscow's expulsion last week of their diplomats for allegedly taking part in protests in support of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

Germany, Sweden and Poland on Monday each threw out a Russian diplomat in retaliation for Moscow's expulsion last week of their diplomats for allegedly taking part in protests in support of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. The three EU countries announced the tit-for-tat moves in coordinated statements, drawing an angry response from Russia which accused them of meddling in its internal affairs. The diplomatic spat comes at a time of heightened tensions between the European Union and Russia, exacerbated by the arrest and jailing of leading opposition figure Navalny. Russia humiliated the European Union on Friday by announcing the expulsions during a rare meeting in Moscow between EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. European governments strongly condemned the shock expulsions, with Berlin warning that it would respond in kind. Moscow's decision to expel the three diplomats "was in no way justified", the German foreign ministry said Monday, adding that the German staff member had been doing his job of "observing developments in Russia by lawful means". Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde said Stockholm had "informed the Russian ambassador that a person from the Russian embassy is asked to leave Sweden". "This is a clear response to the unacceptable decision to expel a Swedish diplomat who was only performing his duties," she wrote on Twitter. The Polish foreign ministry likewise condemned the "groundless expulsion" of a Polish diplomat from Saint Petersburg and said it had declared "persona non grata" a Russian consular official in Poznan, western Poland. The Russian foreign ministry immediately hit back. "Today's decisions by Poland, Germany and Sweden are unfounded, unfriendly and are a continuation of the very series of actions that the West is taking with regard to our country and which we qualify as interference in our internal affairs," spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on state channel Rossiya 1. - 'Reviving relations' - The Kremlin earlier on Monday defended the expulsion of the EU diplomats during Borrell's high-profile visit, and insisted it remained interested in reviving relations with Brussels. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the declaration of the three foreign diplomats as personae non gratae was a "consequence of the actions of some diplomatic missions in Moscow against the backdrop of illegal riots". Peskov added that Moscow did not initiate "the collapse" of the relationship with the EU. "Russia has been and remains interested in reviving relations between Moscow and Brussels," he told reporters. Navalny, a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, was arrested upon arrival in Moscow on January 17 after spending several months in Germany recovering from a poisoning attack the West believes was ordered by the Kremlin. He was jailed for nearly three years last week for violating parole conditions while in Germany. Tens of thousands of Russians have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest against Putin's 20-year rule and demand Navalny's release, triggering a fierce police crackdown on demonstrators. Western leaders too have called for Navalny to be freed immediately. Russia has bristled at the international backing for Navalny, accusing Europe and the United States of interfering in its domestic affairs. The EU's Borrell is expected to meet with foreign ministers from the 27 member states on February 22 to discuss fresh sanctions against Moscow that would require a unanimous vote among the EU members.

Germany, Poland, Sweden expel Russian diplomats in tit-for-tat move

Poland has lauded India's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccine </a>diplomacy, with its envoy in Delhi, Adam Burakowski saying, "We are happy that your country is becoming more active and vaccine diplomacy is very important". Speaking to our Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Burakowski hoped the Air Transport bubble between the 2 countries can be started soon, pointing out, "We have applied for an air bubble with India and we are waiting for the reply. " LOT Polish Airlines had started a direct flight between Warsaw and Delhi in September 2019 but this was halted due to Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/brazil-starts-vaccination-drive-with-indian-jab-359042/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

&nbsp;

He spoke on several subjects, like Economic and Political ties with India and China and his country's role in Afghanistan. On Afghanistan, the Polish envoy to Delhi, who is also accredited to Kabul said, "We want a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. This is a fantastic country. My dream is someday Polish tourists can visit this country". It is interesting to know, Poland prints Afghanistan's currency of 10 and 20 denominations.

Sidhant Sibal: How has been the cooperation between India and Poland has been when it comes to dealing with COVID crisis? 
Adam Burakowski : Covid has impacted the whole world in a very negative away. Poland is cooperating with India from the beginning. From the first lockdown in March, we cooperated in rescue flights. Few rescue flights were operated for Polish citizens and Vande Bharat flights for Indian Citizens stranded in Poland. It was a very good example of common cooperation against threats all over the world. Nowadays, the situation in the whole of Europe is much worse than India unfortunately. Many lockdowns in many countries. In Poland, we have a national quarantine. Many things are closed, restaurants are closed, hotels are closed, and also if you go to Polish cities, you don't see many people on the streets. This is very hard. We have started a program on vaccination. We are following the EU program and we are using vaccines accepted by the EU. One of them is AstraZeneca which is also produced in India and maybe some cooperation in the future. No cooperation as of now and we have already vaccinated one million out of 38 million Polish population and we hope it will go smoothly. And we hope lockdown is over and we can restore our normal activities and also Polish India ties. India is becoming more and more important in Polish thinking about the world.

Sidhant Sibal: How has been the connectivity between the 2 countries amid the pandemic. Has there been any transport bubble, which has opened? 
Adam Burakowski: We inaugurated direct flight from Delhi to Warsaw by LOT Polish Airlines in Sept 2019. So after half a year of this very successful flight connection, &nbsp;the occupancy was over 90%, we had to cancel it because of Covid. While there were some rescue flights by LOT Polish Airlines. Nowadays, we don't operate with passengers, it operates with cargo to Delhi and Mumbai. We have applied for an air bubble with India and we are waiting for the reply. We hope that when India decides to be more open, Poland and Warsaw will be on their list because we are ready to work on strengthening our ties and our cooperation. LOT flight is ready to fly to India at any moment and it will be solved very soon. There are around 4000 Indian students in Poland and leading Polish universities give program in the English language. We are still giving students visas so that students can go and start studies and we want to increase this. This will be more easy when we reopen the direct flight.

Sidhant Sibal: How do you see India's vaccine diplomacy and any cooperation on the vaccine front. Any comments on the ongoing tiff between EU and AstraZeneca. 
Adam Burakowski: India, I think made a very good move to become one of the largest producers of the vaccine in the world. We observed India provided vaccine to south Asia, neighboring countries, and also some countries which are some distant. This program went quickly and rapidly and helps many countries and millions of people. We see that the Govt of India has some plan to be more active in this in the world. We are very hopeful that India will play a bigger role. India shares so many values with Poland and Europe. We are happy that your country is becoming more active and vaccine diplomacy is a very important, very helpful tool for the world. Concerning EU AstraZeneca, I hope it will be solved very soon. And maybe, more quantity of AstraZeneca will be produced in India, but this is a question better to ask AstraZeneca company. We all hope vaccines in the world go smoothly and quickly.

Sidhant Sibal: On ties with India, how do you see the overall relationship when it comes to Europe. Also on China, do you see ties. So overall, India and China, and Poland's ties with both countries. This even as China has been aggressive with the countries in the region.

Adam Burakowski: China is important to partner with Poland and we have many ties with China, especially economic, political. We have totally different political system, we have a democratic system. But we cooperate on economics, there is also a train route, that takes cargo. We see the European Union prepared an agreement on investment with China. We were not so hurrying to have this agreement before some consultations especially our transatlantic partners, US and new admin of Joe Biden. We strongly advocate transatlantic ties. Concerning India, we hope India will be closer and closer to European Union as a whole. We have big expectations from the India EU summit that will take place in Portugal in May this year. Also, in Poland and central Europe group Visegrád, we want to show India can also have good and better relations with us, especially economy, students you mentioned, connectivity. We have some hopes of increasing cooperation with India in Cybersecurity. Ongoing India EU dialogue on cyber issues.

Sidhant Sibal: Poland has played an important role in Afghanistan if you can elaborate on that? 
Adam Burakowski: Poland always supported Freedom and stability in Afghanistan. Polish soldiers have been part of the missions, we have contributed not only militarily but also development projects. Especially in Ghazni and northern Areas. We strongly support freedom and stability in Afghanistan. And we not only support verbally but also in action. We have a Polish military contingent that is part of a resolute support mission. Poland has just printed the banknotes for Afghanistan. The banknote of 10 and 20 Afghani. This also example of very good cooperation with Afghanistan. We want a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. This is a fantastic country. My dream is someday Polish tourists can visit this country and enjoy the atmosphere, the food, views, the mountains. I hope the Afghan elite can set up some long-lasting solution for peace and stability. 
&nbsp;

Poland has lauded India's vaccine diplomacy, with its envoy in Delhi, Adam Burakowski saying, "We are happy that your country is becoming more active and vaccine diplomacy is very important".

Poland has lauded India's vaccine diplomacy, with its envoy in Delhi, Adam Burakowski saying, "We are happy that your country is becoming more active and vaccine diplomacy is very important". Speaking to our Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Burakowski hoped the Air Transport bubble between the 2 countries can be started soon, pointing out, "We have applied for an air bubble with India and we are waiting for the reply. " LOT Polish Airlines had started a direct flight between Warsaw and Delhi in September 2019 but this was halted due to Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Watch | He spoke on several subjects, like Economic and Political ties with India and China and his country's role in Afghanistan. On Afghanistan, the Polish envoy to Delhi, who is also accredited to Kabul said, "We want a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. This is a fantastic country. My dream is someday Polish tourists can visit this country". It is interesting to know, Poland prints Afghanistan's currency of 10 and 20 denominations. Sidhant Sibal: How has been the cooperation between India and Poland has been when it comes to dealing with COVID crisis? Adam Burakowski : Covid has impacted the whole world in a very negative away. Poland is cooperating with India from the beginning. From the first lockdown in March, we cooperated in rescue flights. Few rescue flights were operated for Polish citizens and Vande Bharat flights for Indian Citizens stranded in Poland. It was a very good example of common cooperation against threats all over the world. Nowadays, the situation in the whole of Europe is much worse than India unfortunately. Many lockdowns in many countries. In Poland, we have a national quarantine. Many things are closed, restaurants are closed, hotels are closed, and also if you go to Polish cities, you don't see many people on the streets. This is very hard. We have started a program on vaccination. We are following the EU program and we are using vaccines accepted by the EU. One of them is AstraZeneca which is also produced in India and maybe some cooperation in the future. No cooperation as of now and we have already vaccinated one million out of 38 million Polish population and we hope it will go smoothly. And we hope lockdown is over and we can restore our normal activities and also Polish India ties. India is becoming more and more important in Polish thinking about the world. Sidhant Sibal: How has been the connectivity between the 2 countries amid the pandemic. Has there been any transport bubble, which has opened? Adam Burakowski: We inaugurated direct flight from Delhi to Warsaw by LOT Polish Airlines in Sept 2019. So after half a year of this very successful flight connection, the occupancy was over 90%, we had to cancel it because of Covid. While there were some rescue flights by LOT Polish Airlines. Nowadays, we don't operate with passengers, it operates with cargo to Delhi and Mumbai. We have applied for an air bubble with India and we are waiting for the reply. We hope that when India decides to be more open, Poland and Warsaw will be on their list because we are ready to work on strengthening our ties and our cooperation. LOT flight is ready to fly to India at any moment and it will be solved very soon. There are around 4000 Indian students in Poland and leading Polish universities give program in the English language. We are still giving students visas so that students can go and start studies and we want to increase this. This will be more easy when we reopen the direct flight. Sidhant Sibal: How do you see India's vaccine diplomacy and any cooperation on the vaccine front. Any comments on the ongoing tiff between EU and AstraZeneca. Adam Burakowski: India, I think made a very good move to become one of the largest producers of the vaccine in the world. We observed India provided vaccine to south Asia, neighboring countries, and also some countries which are some distant. This program went quickly and rapidly and helps many countries and millions of people. We see that the Govt of India has some plan to be more active in this in the world. We are very hopeful that India will play a bigger role. India shares so many values with Poland and Europe. We are happy that your country is becoming more active and vaccine diplomacy is a very important, very helpful tool for the world. Concerning EU AstraZeneca, I hope it will be solved very soon. And maybe, more quantity of AstraZeneca will be produced in India, but this is a question better to ask AstraZeneca company. We all hope vaccines in the world go smoothly and quickly. Sidhant Sibal: On ties with India, how do you see the overall relationship when it comes to Europe. Also on China, do you see ties. So overall, India and China, and Poland's ties with both countries. This even as China has been aggressive with the countries in the region. Adam Burakowski: China is important to partner with Poland and we have many ties with China, especially economic, political. We have totally different political system, we have a democratic system. But we cooperate on economics, there is also a train route, that takes cargo. We see the European Union prepared an agreement on investment with China. We were not so hurrying to have this agreement before some consultations especially our transatlantic partners, US and new admin of Joe Biden. We strongly advocate transatlantic ties. Concerning India, we hope India will be closer and closer to European Union as a whole. We have big expectations from the India EU summit that will take place in Portugal in May this year. Also, in Poland and central Europe group Visegrád, we want to show India can also have good and better relations with us, especially economy, students you mentioned, connectivity. We have some hopes of increasing cooperation with India in Cybersecurity. Ongoing India EU dialogue on cyber issues. Sidhant Sibal: Poland has played an important role in Afghanistan if you can elaborate on that? Adam Burakowski: Poland always supported Freedom and stability in Afghanistan. Polish soldiers have been part of the missions, we have contributed not only militarily but also development projects. Especially in Ghazni and northern Areas. We strongly support freedom and stability in Afghanistan. And we not only support verbally but also in action. We have a Polish military contingent that is part of a resolute support mission. Poland has just printed the banknotes for Afghanistan. The banknote of 10 and 20 Afghani. This also example of very good cooperation with Afghanistan. We want a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. This is a fantastic country. My dream is someday Polish tourists can visit this country and enjoy the atmosphere, the food, views, the mountains. I hope the Afghan elite can set up some long-lasting solution for peace and stability.

Exclusive: Poland lauds India's vaccine diplomacy, hopes for early air transport bubble

Thousands of people took to the streets of Poland to protest against a near-total ban on abortion, which came into force on Thursday.

Thousands protest as abortion law comes into effect in Poland

Survivors of the Auschwitz death camp will mark the 76th anniversary of its liberation by Soviet troops virtually, as the museum on the site of the camp remains closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Auschwitz survivors mark anniversary virtually amid pandemic fears

US e-commerce giant Amazon is set to launch a Polish-language site and began the process of registering companies that want to sell to customers through its platform.

Poland, which has a population of 38 million people, is one of the last major European countries without a dedicated Amazon website.

"The next step is to bring a full consumer retail offering to Poland and we are making those plans now," Alex Ootes, Amazon's Vice President for EU expansion, said in a statement.

The decision sent shares in top local rival Allegro down by over 7 per cent.

Amazon has been present in Poland since 2014 with nine logistics centres but customers have had to order via its international websites, adding to costs. Local media have reported for months that the group was preparing to launch a local online shopping platform.

(with inputs from agencies)

US e-commerce giant Amazon is set to launch a Polish-language site and began the process of registering companies that want to sell to customers through its platform.

US e-commerce giant Amazon is set to launch a Polish-language site and began the process of registering companies that want to sell to customers through its platform. Poland, which has a population of 38 million people, is one of the last major European countries without a dedicated Amazon website. "The next step is to bring a full consumer retail offering to Poland and we are making those plans now," Alex Ootes, Amazon's Vice President for EU expansion, said in a statement. The decision sent shares in top local rival Allegro down by over 7 per cent. Amazon has been present in Poland since 2014 with nine logistics centres but customers have had to order via its international websites, adding to costs. Local media have reported for months that the group was preparing to launch a local online shopping platform. (with inputs from agencies)

Amazon set to launch in Poland

The Polish cities of Bialystok and Warsaw suffered travel troubles on Monday, after temperature dropped below -28 degrees Celsius (-18.4 degrees Fahrenheit) overnight - the coldest night in 11 years.

Big freeze in Poland causes traffic problems

A skating rink owner in the Polish city of Szczecin believes he has found a way to keep his business open despite coronavirus restrictions - operate as a flower shop instead.

On thin ice? Poles get creative to skate round coronavirus rules

Love them or hate them, monoliths are here to stay. Atleast they are here to pop up every day in God knows which corner of Earth. The newest of the monoliths has appeared oh-so-mysteriously in Poland. And no just anywhere in Poland, but in its capital Warsaw on the banks of Vistula river. Local media reported that joggers noticed the monolith.

The monolith in Poland stands about 3 metres (10 feet) tall. Has a dull silver colour and is held together by screws. It has appeared near a major bridge in Warsaw.

"A mysterious and unusual installation has emerged on the beach on the right (river) bank," Warsaw's Vistula district authorities said on their Facebook page. &nbsp;

"If you spend your time actively on the Vistula river, it won't escape your attention," they added, without elaborating.

"I was expecting some kind of metaphysical experience, but it's not really all that impressive," a woman visiting the site on Thursday who declined to be named told AFP.&nbsp;

No one claimed responsibility for the installation as of Thursday.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/another-monolith-pops-up-in-texas-this-time-348451">Another monolith pops up, in Texas this time</a>

Monolith appearances have been everywhere on social media since last month. First it was found in Utah. Monoliths were then found in Romania, California, Belgium and on Isle of Wight. They have also been spotted in Spain Germany and Colombia.

On Thursday (December 9) a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-monolith-in-england-has-a-message-dont-consider-it-a-work-of-banksy-348939">monolith was found on Glastonbury Tor</a> in England but since it was written that it was "not Banksy" on it, this appearance was taken more as a joke.

On Wednesday (December 8)&nbsp;another monolith was spotted in El Paso, Texas.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The monolith sounds hollow as hell really light easy to tip over and move <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElPaso?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElPaso</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/monolith?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#monolith</a> <a href="https://t.co/AVq0pSVx71">pic.twitter.com/AVq0pSVx71</a>
— Unelectable Airwaves Podcast 🌹 🔮 (@UnelectableA) <a href="https://twitter.com/UnelectableA/status/1336156215059992577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The monolith was later found removed.

Love them or hate them, monoliths are here to stay. Atleast they are here to pop up every day in God knows which corner of Earth. The newest of the monoliths has appeared oh-so-mysteriously in Poland.

Love them or hate them, monoliths are here to stay. Atleast they are here to pop up every day in God knows which corner of Earth. The newest of the monoliths has appeared oh-so-mysteriously in Poland. And no just anywhere in Poland, but in its capital Warsaw on the banks of Vistula river. Local media reported that joggers noticed the monolith. The monolith in Poland stands about 3 metres (10 feet) tall. Has a dull silver colour and is held together by screws. It has appeared near a major bridge in Warsaw. "A mysterious and unusual installation has emerged on the beach on the right (river) bank," Warsaw's Vistula district authorities said on their Facebook page. "If you spend your time actively on the Vistula river, it won't escape your attention," they added, without elaborating. "I was expecting some kind of metaphysical experience, but it's not really all that impressive," a woman visiting the site on Thursday who declined to be named told AFP. No one claimed responsibility for the installation as of Thursday. Also Read | Another monolith pops up, in Texas this time Monolith appearances have been everywhere on social media since last month. First it was found in Utah. Monoliths were then found in Romania, California, Belgium and on Isle of Wight. They have also been spotted in Spain Germany and Colombia. On Thursday (December 9) a monolith was found on Glastonbury Tor in England but since it was written that it was "not Banksy" on it, this appearance was taken more as a joke. On Wednesday (December 8) another monolith was spotted in El Paso, Texas. The monolith sounds hollow as hell really light easy to tip over and move #ElPaso #monolith pic.twitter.com/AVq0pSVx71 — Unelectable Airwaves Podcast 🌹 🔮 (@UnelectableA) December 8, 2020 × The monolith was later found removed.

New monolith alert: In Poland, on Vistula riverbank in Warsaw

While mass protests against a court verdict backing a near-total ban on abortion have taken on an increasingly political flavour in Poland, the devout Catholic country is far from turning pro-choice.

Surveys show that Poles have grown comfortable with existing abortion legislation -- among Europe's most restrictive -- adopted in 1993 as part of a church-state compromise after the collapse of communism.

Abortion is only permitted in cases of rape or incest, when the life of the mother is at risk or if there is a severe foetal anomaly. That last provision was struck down by the constitutional court last month, triggering a wave of protests nationwide.

"We're seeing a surprising mobilisation of the younger generation in particular in these protests. And in that group, support for a more liberal law is growing -- but that's not the majority," said Adam Szostkiewicz, a commentator on political and religious issues.

"The majority had been silent for years, holding the belief that if the Church says so and politicians don't question it, then evidently that's just how it must be," he told AFP.

Only 22 percent of Poles are in favour of abortion on demand, according to a survey published late last month by the independent Kantar pollsters. Sixty-two percent think it should be legal in certain cases, while 11 percent are in favour of a total ban.

- 'There was no sexual revolution' -

According to sociologist Katarzyna Zielinska, the attachment of Poles to Catholicism as well as conservative family and gender roles is rooted in the communist past.

"There was no sexual revolution in Poland. On the contrary, we had a religious renewal, because the mobilisation against the communist regime was associated with religion."

Under communism, when Poland had a liberal termination law and contraceptive measures were either unavailable or ineffective, abortions took place en masse.

Today the EU member of 38 million people sees fewer than 2,000 legal abortions every year, according to official statistics. Women's groups estimate that another 200,000 women abort illegally or abroad.

Social researcher Inga Koralewska told AFP that the communist regime liberalised abortion not for women's rights but for political reasons, possibly as "a flick on the nose at the Church, the bedrock of Polish identity" and an ally of the opposition at the time.

When communism fell, the Church was in a position of strength and efficiency while Polish state institutions were in a shambles, allowing it to play an active role in shaping the current abortion law.

- Only time will tell -

Back then, Poles had more liberal views on abortion.

In 1992, 47 percent of Poles believed abortion should be permitted in difficult financial circumstances, according to the CBOS institute.

By 2016, approval was down to 14 percent.

The decrease can be attributed to multiple factors, including the tendency for laws to shape attitudes as well as a societal response to the fact that politicians -- even on the left -- were loath to take on the issue lest the Church turn voters against them.

Zielinska said the impetus for change began with the smaller-scale 2016 protests against a proposed tightening of the law, when women began to speak out about their own terminations.

"Perhaps this is a step that will take us in a more liberal direction," she added.

Szostkiewicz said the "radicalisation" of Poland's liberals was a significant development.

"They've had enough of the majority's silence, are fed up with the Church's interference -- in covenant with the state -- in their private matters and are publicly voicing their anger," he said.

"I see it as a sign that this principled, radical group will most likely grow in strength, and will have an effect on broader public opinion. But will that happen now or in the near future? I don't know."

While mass protests against a court verdict backing a near-total ban on abortion have taken on an increasingly political flavour in Poland, the devout Catholic country is far from turning pro-choice.

While mass protests against a court verdict backing a near-total ban on abortion have taken on an increasingly political flavour in Poland, the devout Catholic country is far from turning pro-choice. Surveys show that Poles have grown comfortable with existing abortion legislation -- among Europe's most restrictive -- adopted in 1993 as part of a church-state compromise after the collapse of communism. Abortion is only permitted in cases of rape or incest, when the life of the mother is at risk or if there is a severe foetal anomaly. That last provision was struck down by the constitutional court last month, triggering a wave of protests nationwide. "We're seeing a surprising mobilisation of the younger generation in particular in these protests. And in that group, support for a more liberal law is growing -- but that's not the majority," said Adam Szostkiewicz, a commentator on political and religious issues. "The majority had been silent for years, holding the belief that if the Church says so and politicians don't question it, then evidently that's just how it must be," he told AFP. Only 22 percent of Poles are in favour of abortion on demand, according to a survey published late last month by the independent Kantar pollsters. Sixty-two percent think it should be legal in certain cases, while 11 percent are in favour of a total ban. - 'There was no sexual revolution' - According to sociologist Katarzyna Zielinska, the attachment of Poles to Catholicism as well as conservative family and gender roles is rooted in the communist past. "There was no sexual revolution in Poland. On the contrary, we had a religious renewal, because the mobilisation against the communist regime was associated with religion." Under communism, when Poland had a liberal termination law and contraceptive measures were either unavailable or ineffective, abortions took place en masse. Today the EU member of 38 million people sees fewer than 2,000 legal abortions every year, according to official statistics. Women's groups estimate that another 200,000 women abort illegally or abroad. Social researcher Inga Koralewska told AFP that the communist regime liberalised abortion not for women's rights but for political reasons, possibly as "a flick on the nose at the Church, the bedrock of Polish identity" and an ally of the opposition at the time. When communism fell, the Church was in a position of strength and efficiency while Polish state institutions were in a shambles, allowing it to play an active role in shaping the current abortion law. - Only time will tell - Back then, Poles had more liberal views on abortion. In 1992, 47 percent of Poles believed abortion should be permitted in difficult financial circumstances, according to the CBOS institute. By 2016, approval was down to 14 percent. The decrease can be attributed to multiple factors, including the tendency for laws to shape attitudes as well as a societal response to the fact that politicians -- even on the left -- were loath to take on the issue lest the Church turn voters against them. Zielinska said the impetus for change began with the smaller-scale 2016 protests against a proposed tightening of the law, when women began to speak out about their own terminations. "Perhaps this is a step that will take us in a more liberal direction," she added. Szostkiewicz said the "radicalisation" of Poland's liberals was a significant development. "They've had enough of the majority's silence, are fed up with the Church's interference -- in covenant with the state -- in their private matters and are publicly voicing their anger," he said. "I see it as a sign that this principled, radical group will most likely grow in strength, and will have an effect on broader public opinion. But will that happen now or in the near future? I don't know."

'Silent majority' of Poles favour strict abortion law

The protests coincided with the 102 anniversary of Polish women gaining voting rights in the country.

People rally against abortion ban In Poland on women's vote anniversary

Warsaw artist Jarek Kubicki has designed posters for the hundreds of thousands protesting against the restriction of abortion in Poland, based on a famous image of the Solidarity trade union, which helped topple communism in the country.

Polish artist recreates famous Solidarity poster for abortion rights protests

Polish barber Kinga Rutkowska is one of thousands who have taken to the streets across Poland for seven consecutive days to join a national protest against further abortion restrictions.

Polish barber shuts shop to protest against abortion restrictions

Polish barber Kinga Rutkowska has struggled to make ends meet during the pandemic but for her, protecting women's rights outweighs financial losses, so she closed her shop on Wednesday (October 28) to join a national protest against further abortion restrictions.

Polish barber sacrifices pay to fight for women's rights in abortion protests

Tens of thousands of Poles have defied COVID-19 restrictions to protest against a new high court ruling that imposes a near-total ban on abortion, blocking major roads and bridges and chanting anti-government slogans.

The demonstrators, some dressed as characters from “The Handmaid’s Tale,” have even disrupted masses and vandalized churches — a rare case of lashing out at the government’s ally, the Catholic Church, in the staunchly Catholic country.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/protesters-target-churches-over-polands-near-total-abortion-ban-337875" hreflang="en">Protesters target churches over Poland's near-total abortion ban</a>

The protests began Thursday over the ruling that tightened what was already one of Europe’s most restrictive abortion laws. But they have increasingly turned into a broader expression of anger at a right-wing government that opponents accuse of hijacking the judiciary and chipping away at the rights of women and minorities.

“What is happening in the public space, those acts of aggression, attacks, barbarism, is unacceptable,” the prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, said on Tuesday. “I don’t give my consent to attack people, churches, and the right to pursue values by others,” he added, appealing to protesters to refrain from acts of aggression.

Here’s a look at how the issue became such a flash point.

What sparked the protests?

Prior to Thursday’s ruling by the Constitutional Tribunal, Poland had permitted terminations only for fetal abnormalities, in case of a threat to a woman’s health or in the case of incest or rape. But in practice, the overwhelming majority of legal abortions — 1,074 of 1,100 performed last year — resulted from fetal abnormalities.

However, the latest court ruling held that abortions for fetal abnormalities violate the Constitution — a decision that cannot be appealed.

Still, this category of abortions represents only a small fraction of those obtained by Polish women. Many already go abroad for abortions or have them illegally. Common obstacles to legal termination include lengthy waits and doctors refusing to perform them.

And there is very little financial and psychological support for families of disabled children, who are left to fend for themselves once the child is born.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/poland-abortion-apex-court-bans-almost-all-terminations-337480" hreflang="en">Poland abortion: Apex court bans almost all terminations</a>

In the court ruling, the tribunal’s president, Julia Przylebska, said that allowing abortions for fetal abnormalities legalized “eugenic practices.” Because Poland’s Constitution guarantees the protection of human life, she added, termination based on the health of a fetus amounted to “a directly forbidden form of discrimination.”

Protesters are demanding that the court reverse itself and a growing number are also calling for liberalization of the abortion law. Protests have spread from cities to towns and villages and women’s groups have found support from some unlikely corners, including taxi drivers, farmers and coal miners, all with their own grievances against the government.

How does this reflect Polish politics and society?

The ruling Law and Justice party has largely erased the independence of the judiciary, drawing international condemnation. Opponents say the party is now using subservient courts to achieve what it could not do legislatively, something that the government denies.

The government has tried repeatedly to make the abortion law stricter, but could not muster the votes in Parliament. Polls have shown that most citizens oppose new limits and each attempt was met with mass demonstrations.

Analysts say that with attention on the pandemic and the next election three years away, the time was ripe for a new strategy. Rather than try again to pass legislation, right-wing lawmakers asked the constitutional tribunal, Poland’s highest court, to review the law.

But many women say they are being used as pawns in the ruling party’s efforts to distract the public from its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, with cases surging and hospitals increasingly overwhelmed. In the past month, Poland has become one of the hardest-hit countries in the world, straining its health care system. The president, Andrzej Duda, tested positive on Saturday.

Critics say the governing Law and Justice Party is doing the bidding of church leaders and right-wing groups, forcing women to choose whether to have dangerous illegal abortions, to go abroad for abortions, or to give birth to children with serious — often fatal — health problems.

The governing party, which took power in 2015, presents itself as the defender of traditional, Catholic values, and denigrates its opponents as anti-Polish and anti-Christian. Central to that vision are Polish women as wives and mothers, and women’s rights groups are depicted as dangerous agents of liberal, Western propaganda.

They have not been the party’s only target. At the height of Europe’s migration crisis, Law and Justice portrayed refugees as a threat to Christian civilization — but later agreed to take in Christian ones. After that issue subsided, the right focused much of its attention during recent political campaigns on gay people, painting them as a threat to Polish life and values.

Law and Justice has seized on European Union complaints about Poland’s illiberal course as evidence that the bloc is pushing “foreign” ideas that threaten to undermine Polish sovereignty.

What sets these protests apart?

Protesters are using an intentionally vulgar slogan to shock people and send the message that well-mannered approaches have not worked. And they have broken the long-standing social taboo against challenging the church.

The Catholic church, perhaps the most influential pillar of Polish society since the fall of communism, has long pressured the government to tighten or eliminate access to abortion.

On Sunday, women’s rights activists were protesting in the streets and disrupting church services all over Poland, holding up anti-government and anti-church banners that read: “This is war,” or “We have had enough,” and “We will not be victimized.”

Groups of young men and women confronted priests in some places, and protesters painted graffiti on the walls of churches and cathedrals across the country. Since the beginning of the demonstrations, far-right activists have been defending churches and confronting the protesters, sometimes using physical force, in a reflection of what critics say is an alliance between the government, the Catholic Church, and far-right groups.

In Konstancin Jeziorna, a leafy suburb of Warsaw, a monument to Pope John Paul II was doused with red paint — a once-unthinkable affront to a national hero.

How does Poland compare to other countries?

Under communism, Poland and other Soviet bloc states had some of the most liberal abortion laws. Women’s rights activists used to help Swedes travel to Poland for abortions.

But the country now has one of the most restrictive abortion laws among the world’s wealthier countries, adopted in 1993. The high court ruling moves the country even farther from the mainstream.

Nearly all of Europe has abortion on demand, up to a certain point in pregnancy. The United States does, as well, though many states have made access to it difficult.

On the day of the top court’s ruling on abortions, the governments of Poland, the United States and several other countries, including Uganda, Hungary, Belarus and Saudi Arabia, signed the Geneva Consensus Declaration, a statement challenging the right to abortion.

Tens of thousands of Poles have defied COVID-19 restrictions to protest against a new high court ruling that imposes a near-total ban on abortion, blocking major roads and bridges and chanting anti-government slogans.

Tens of thousands of Poles have defied COVID-19 restrictions to protest against a new high court ruling that imposes a near-total ban on abortion, blocking major roads and bridges and chanting anti-government slogans. The demonstrators, some dressed as characters from “The Handmaid’s Tale,” have even disrupted masses and vandalized churches — a rare case of lashing out at the government’s ally, the Catholic Church, in the staunchly Catholic country. Also read: Protesters target churches over Poland's near-total abortion ban The protests began Thursday over the ruling that tightened what was already one of Europe’s most restrictive abortion laws. But they have increasingly turned into a broader expression of anger at a right-wing government that opponents accuse of hijacking the judiciary and chipping away at the rights of women and minorities. “What is happening in the public space, those acts of aggression, attacks, barbarism, is unacceptable,” the prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, said on Tuesday. “I don’t give my consent to attack people, churches, and the right to pursue values by others,” he added, appealing to protesters to refrain from acts of aggression. Here’s a look at how the issue became such a flash point. What sparked the protests? Prior to Thursday’s ruling by the Constitutional Tribunal, Poland had permitted terminations only for fetal abnormalities, in case of a threat to a woman’s health or in the case of incest or rape. But in practice, the overwhelming majority of legal abortions — 1,074 of 1,100 performed last year — resulted from fetal abnormalities. However, the latest court ruling held that abortions for fetal abnormalities violate the Constitution — a decision that cannot be appealed. Still, this category of abortions represents only a small fraction of those obtained by Polish women. Many already go abroad for abortions or have them illegally. Common obstacles to legal termination include lengthy waits and doctors refusing to perform them. And there is very little financial and psychological support for families of disabled children, who are left to fend for themselves once the child is born. Also read: Poland abortion: Apex court bans almost all terminations In the court ruling, the tribunal’s president, Julia Przylebska, said that allowing abortions for fetal abnormalities legalized “eugenic practices.” Because Poland’s Constitution guarantees the protection of human life, she added, termination based on the health of a fetus amounted to “a directly forbidden form of discrimination.” Protesters are demanding that the court reverse itself and a growing number are also calling for liberalization of the abortion law. Protests have spread from cities to towns and villages and women’s groups have found support from some unlikely corners, including taxi drivers, farmers and coal miners, all with their own grievances against the government. How does this reflect Polish politics and society? The ruling Law and Justice party has largely erased the independence of the judiciary, drawing international condemnation. Opponents say the party is now using subservient courts to achieve what it could not do legislatively, something that the government denies. The government has tried repeatedly to make the abortion law stricter, but could not muster the votes in Parliament. Polls have shown that most citizens oppose new limits and each attempt was met with mass demonstrations. Analysts say that with attention on the pandemic and the next election three years away, the time was ripe for a new strategy. Rather than try again to pass legislation, right-wing lawmakers asked the constitutional tribunal, Poland’s highest court, to review the law. But many women say they are being used as pawns in the ruling party’s efforts to distract the public from its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, with cases surging and hospitals increasingly overwhelmed. In the past month, Poland has become one of the hardest-hit countries in the world, straining its health care system. The president, Andrzej Duda, tested positive on Saturday. Critics say the governing Law and Justice Party is doing the bidding of church leaders and right-wing groups, forcing women to choose whether to have dangerous illegal abortions, to go abroad for abortions, or to give birth to children with serious — often fatal — health problems. The governing party, which took power in 2015, presents itself as the defender of traditional, Catholic values, and denigrates its opponents as anti-Polish and anti-Christian. Central to that vision are Polish women as wives and mothers, and women’s rights groups are depicted as dangerous agents of liberal, Western propaganda. They have not been the party’s only target. At the height of Europe’s migration crisis, Law and Justice portrayed refugees as a threat to Christian civilization — but later agreed to take in Christian ones. After that issue subsided, the right focused much of its attention during recent political campaigns on gay people, painting them as a threat to Polish life and values. Law and Justice has seized on European Union complaints about Poland’s illiberal course as evidence that the bloc is pushing “foreign” ideas that threaten to undermine Polish sovereignty. What sets these protests apart? Protesters are using an intentionally vulgar slogan to shock people and send the message that well-mannered approaches have not worked. And they have broken the long-standing social taboo against challenging the church. The Catholic church, perhaps the most influential pillar of Polish society since the fall of communism, has long pressured the government to tighten or eliminate access to abortion. On Sunday, women’s rights activists were protesting in the streets and disrupting church services all over Poland, holding up anti-government and anti-church banners that read: “This is war,” or “We have had enough,” and “We will not be victimized.” Groups of young men and women confronted priests in some places, and protesters painted graffiti on the walls of churches and cathedrals across the country. Since the beginning of the demonstrations, far-right activists have been defending churches and confronting the protesters, sometimes using physical force, in a reflection of what critics say is an alliance between the government, the Catholic Church, and far-right groups. In Konstancin Jeziorna, a leafy suburb of Warsaw, a monument to Pope John Paul II was doused with red paint — a once-unthinkable affront to a national hero. How does Poland compare to other countries? Under communism, Poland and other Soviet bloc states had some of the most liberal abortion laws. Women’s rights activists used to help Swedes travel to Poland for abortions. But the country now has one of the most restrictive abortion laws among the world’s wealthier countries, adopted in 1993. The high court ruling moves the country even farther from the mainstream. Nearly all of Europe has abortion on demand, up to a certain point in pregnancy. The United States does, as well, though many states have made access to it difficult. On the day of the top court’s ruling on abortions, the governments of Poland, the United States and several other countries, including Uganda, Hungary, Belarus and Saudi Arabia, signed the Geneva Consensus Declaration, a statement challenging the right to abortion.

Why a new abortion ban in Poland is tearing the country apart

Should abortion be a choice? In Poland, the top judicial body has imposed a near-total ban on abortion. Thousands of women have hit the streets against the decision. The debate between 'pro-choice' & 'pro-life' has been reignited. WION's Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Poland imposes near-total ban on abortion

Tens of thousands of Poles blocked city streets in cars, on bicycles and on foot on Monday (October 26) on the fifth day of protests against a Constitutional Court ruling that amounts to a near-total ban on abortion in the predominantly Catholic country.

Abortion rights protests block city streets across Poland

Protesters targeted Catholic churches across Poland on Sunday in the fourth straight day of upheaval against a near-total ban on abortion in the EU country.

Demonstrators chanted "we've had enough!" and "barbarians" inside a church in the western city of Poznan, according to a video clip posted on social media, in scenes that were repeated across the deeply Catholic country.

The protesters were reacting to Thursday's ruling by Poland's constitutional court that an existing law allowing the abortion of damaged foetuses was "incompatible" with the constitution.

The verdict is in line with the position of Poland's powerful Roman Catholic episcopate and the governing nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party.

Protesters, brandishing placards bearing expletives and others saying "I wish I could abort my government", skirmished with police and supporters of the ban outside a landmark church in central Warsaw.

Local media also ran pictures of graffiti daubed on church walls in various cities and towns reading "Women's hell" -- the main slogan of the protests.

Thousands of people -- most of them women -- also rallied in the cities of Gdansk, Krakow, Lodz, Rzeszow as well as dozens of traditionally more conservative towns, echoing mass protests held across Poland since Thursday in defiance of strict limits on public gathering under anti-coronavirus measures.

Opponents of the ruling argue it puts women's lives at risk by forcing them to carry unviable pregnancies but supporters insist it will prevent the abortion of foetuses diagnosed with Down Syndrome.&nbsp;

There are already fewer than 2,000 legal abortions per year in Poland -- and the vast majority of those are carried out due to damaged &nbsp;foetuses.&nbsp;

But women's groups estimate that up to 200,000 procedures are performed illegally or abroad each year.

The abortion verdict drew condemnation from several human rights groups in Europe and the Council of Europe, the continent's leading human rights organisation.

Protesters targeted Catholic churches across Poland on Sunday in the fourth straight day of upheaval against a near-total ban on abortion in the EU country. Demonstrators chanted "we've had enough!

Protesters targeted Catholic churches across Poland on Sunday in the fourth straight day of upheaval against a near-total ban on abortion in the EU country. Demonstrators chanted "we've had enough!" and "barbarians" inside a church in the western city of Poznan, according to a video clip posted on social media, in scenes that were repeated across the deeply Catholic country. The protesters were reacting to Thursday's ruling by Poland's constitutional court that an existing law allowing the abortion of damaged foetuses was "incompatible" with the constitution. The verdict is in line with the position of Poland's powerful Roman Catholic episcopate and the governing nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party. Protesters, brandishing placards bearing expletives and others saying "I wish I could abort my government", skirmished with police and supporters of the ban outside a landmark church in central Warsaw. Local media also ran pictures of graffiti daubed on church walls in various cities and towns reading "Women's hell" -- the main slogan of the protests. Thousands of people -- most of them women -- also rallied in the cities of Gdansk, Krakow, Lodz, Rzeszow as well as dozens of traditionally more conservative towns, echoing mass protests held across Poland since Thursday in defiance of strict limits on public gathering under anti-coronavirus measures. Opponents of the ruling argue it puts women's lives at risk by forcing them to carry unviable pregnancies but supporters insist it will prevent the abortion of foetuses diagnosed with Down Syndrome. There are already fewer than 2,000 legal abortions per year in Poland -- and the vast majority of those are carried out due to damaged foetuses. But women's groups estimate that up to 200,000 procedures are performed illegally or abroad each year. The abortion verdict drew condemnation from several human rights groups in Europe and the Council of Europe, the continent's leading human rights organisation.

Protesters target churches over Poland's near-total abortion ban

Poland's President Andrzej Duda has tested positive for the novel coronavirus,&nbsp;Blazej Spychalski, secretary of state in the president's office announced on Twitter.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to inform you that Mr. President&nbsp;@AndrzejDuda is well and is currently in isolation," he tweeted. "It is run by @GIS_gov&nbsp;procedure. We operate in accordance with the regulations and guidelines of the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate," the tweet continued.

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Szanowni Państwo, informuję że Pan Prezydent <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrzejDuda?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AndrzejDuda</a> czuje się dobrze i obecnie przebywa w izolacji. Prowadzone jest przez <a href="https://twitter.com/GIS_gov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GIS_gov</a> postępowanie. Działamy zgodnie z przepisami i wytycznymi Głównego Inspektoratu Sanitarnego.
— Błażej Spychalski (@spychalski_b) <a href="https://twitter.com/spychalski_b/status/1319940290740948992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The announcement came as the country saw a sudden surge in the number of coronavirus infections, and the central government initiated a "red zone" lockdown on Saturday.

The lockdown brought a partial closure of all primary schools — with only grades one to three attending classes —and secondary classes have been shifted to online learning.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/frances-coronavirus-cases-top-1-million-as-daily-tally-hits-new-high-337618">Also read|&nbsp;France's coronavirus cases top 1 million as daily tally hits new high&nbsp;</a>

A partial lockdown on restaurants, pubs and cafes&nbsp;was also initiated in the whole country, as per which they can also serve take-away meals. Fitness clubs and swimming pools, however, have been completely shut.

A limit of five has been imposed, with a complete pause on weddings and religious services. All young babies and senior citizens have been advised to stay home.

The lockdown was initiated as the country was reporting single-day spike of nearly 13,632 coronavirus cases, out of a population of 38 million.

After the President tested positive, the&nbsp;Bulgarian President Rumen Radev also went into quarantine as the two leaders had attended&nbsp;an investment forum in Tallinn on Monday.

Poland's President Andrzej Duda has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Blazej Spychalski, secretary of state in the president's office announced on Twitter.

Poland's President Andrzej Duda has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Blazej Spychalski, secretary of state in the president's office announced on Twitter. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to inform you that Mr. President @AndrzejDuda is well and is currently in isolation," he tweeted. "It is run by @GIS_gov procedure. We operate in accordance with the regulations and guidelines of the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate," the tweet continued. Szanowni Państwo, informuję że Pan Prezydent @AndrzejDuda czuje się dobrze i obecnie przebywa w izolacji. Prowadzone jest przez @GIS_gov postępowanie. Działamy zgodnie z przepisami i wytycznymi Głównego Inspektoratu Sanitarnego. — Błażej Spychalski (@spychalski_b) October 24, 2020 × The announcement came as the country saw a sudden surge in the number of coronavirus infections, and the central government initiated a "red zone" lockdown on Saturday. The lockdown brought a partial closure of all primary schools — with only grades one to three attending classes —and secondary classes have been shifted to online learning. Also read| France's coronavirus cases top 1 million as daily tally hits new high A partial lockdown on restaurants, pubs and cafes was also initiated in the whole country, as per which they can also serve take-away meals. Fitness clubs and swimming pools, however, have been completely shut. A limit of five has been imposed, with a complete pause on weddings and religious services. All young babies and senior citizens have been advised to stay home. The lockdown was initiated as the country was reporting single-day spike of nearly 13,632 coronavirus cases, out of a population of 38 million. After the President tested positive, the Bulgarian President Rumen Radev also went into quarantine as the two leaders had attended an investment forum in Tallinn on Monday.

Poland's President, Andrzej Duda, tests positive for COVID-19

KASZEWSKA WOLA, Poland — When the European Union condemned Poland’s government for demonizing gays and lesbians, the country’s governing coalition defiantly stood together. When state media was accused of spreading hate speech that fueled violence, the governing parties brushed off concerns. And when protests erupted against efforts to control the judicial system, they pressed ahead regardless.

Then came the minks.

Proposed legislation that would ban the farming of minks, semiaquatic mammals prized for their fur, and put in place a range of protections for other animals, opened deep divisions in the coalition that almost brought down the government.

It took the intervention of Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the head of the dominant Law and Justice Party, to quell the uprising for now by taking on a formal role that allowed him to act as a buffer between opposing factions.

The bill, which gained momentum after a documentary aired on Polish television showing minks living in deplorable conditions on one farm, has widespread public support and the leaders of the country’s foremost opposition party support the legislation.

But the conservative governing coalition is divided over the issue, waging increasingly furious internal battles at a time when the nation is consumed with the coronavirus. All that has raised questions about the long-term viability of the government.

In the face of those concerns, Kaczynski, the most powerful politician in Poland and the architect of the government’s agenda, stepped in Tuesday to be sworn in as deputy prime minister after five years of ruling from behind the scenes.

Apart from separating feuding coalition partners, one of his main tasks will be trying to grow public support for the Law and Justice Party, whose candidate for president, Andrzej Duda, only managed a narrow election victory in July.

It will be a difficult challenge since Kaczynski has been the driving force behind efforts by his party to marginalize the LGBT community, a campaign that has turned off many young voters. And his government has spent years at war with the European Union, despite broad support in Poland for membership in the bloc, especially among the generation born after the end of communist rule in 1989.

The government also has a dismal record on environmental issues — from logging in the country’s ancient forests to failing to curb a reliance on coal.

But in championing animal rights, Kaczynski sees an opportunity.

“This is a pivotal moment for the party,” said Wojciech Przybylski, the editor-in-chief of Visegrad Insight, a policy journal focused on Central Europe. Kaczynski, he said, knows he needs to expand his political base to include younger, more moderate voters by sending “a message of concern about nature and animals.”

The issue also seems personal for Kaczynski, who has long been known for his affection for animals. When his beloved cat, Alik, died, it was national news. The 71-year-old, who shuns nearly all requests for interviews outside of supportive media outlets, even went on TikTok to post a video promoting the #StopFurChallenge.

Since coming to power in 2015, Kaczynski has rarely been challenged. But observers say the division within the coalition over the law reflects a much more profound split between factions that want to take control over the country’s conservative movement.

While Kaczynski’s Law and Justice Party has long been the dominant force in the United Right coalition, it depends on the support of two junior conservative partners to stay in power: the Agreement and United Poland parties.

United Poland is led by the country’s powerful justice minister, Zbigniew Ziobro, who has made no secret of his desire to become the leader of the country’s conservative movement. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki sees himself as the heir apparent. Kaczynski’s emergence as deputy prime minister was partly aimed at keeping the two men apart.

Morawiecki quickly aligned himself with Kaczynski on the animal issue, posting his own video on TikTok supporting a ban on fur. Ziobro opposes the legislation and, until Kaczynski’s intervention, his party was threatening to withdraw from the coalition over it, a move that would have erased the government’s parliamentary majority.

Ziobro’s opposition to the ban on mink farming reflects the industry’s deep roots in Poland. The country is home to the largest mink farms left in Europe and the third largest in the world. The bill, which is still being debated, calls for the fur farms to be closed in a year.

The law would also end the use of wild animals in circuses, restrict the tethering of dogs on chains — a common practice in the countryside — and restrict the ritual slaughter of animals for meat.

The bill has been loudly condemned by politicians from the far right, which has made greater inroads into politics during the five years of rule by the Law and Justice Party.

Kaczynski has often used more extreme factions to push certain messages, and build his party’s power base. The far right was critical in directing public outrage at migrants, helping the Law and Justice Party rise to power in 2015. More recently, as the party cast “LGBT ideology” as a threat to the nation, ultraconservatives have been driving the messaging.

Now Kaczynski risks losing some of that support.

Rev. Tadeusz Rydzyk, a conservative cleric who has strong connections to Law and Order and controls a vast media empire, used his Radio Maryja station to attack the legislation.

“They feel pity now over these little furs,” Rydzyk said recently, adding that the government should be focused on things like further limiting abortion rights. “Let’s not animalize man and humanize animals.”

The bill is also opposed by the meat industry, which says its export business to markets with halal and kosher requirements would be badly hit.

acek Zarzycki, president of the Polish Association of Beef Cattle Breeders and Producers, said that if the bill were passed, his members could lose 30% of their income.

“We cannot afford that; we will lose the best export markets for Polish beef, which is the export star of Polish agriculture,” he told TVN24.

But it is the minks that have drawn the most attention. And it has turned Szczepan Wojcik, who along with his four brothers controls the vast majority of the mink farms in the country, into a national figure.

“I’m the most attacked person in Poland,” he said in an interview at one of his farms some 60 miles outside of Warsaw.

He sees the attacks as part of a broader cultural war in Poland.

“The people who started the debate in Poland about animal rights, banning the use of animals by man, for example, for furs, are exactly the same people who promote LGBT, same-sex marriage, abortion, euthanasia and so on,” he said.

While he has supported Law and Justice in the past, he said his thinking was now more in line with the more conservative groups led by Ziobro and Rydzyk.

Recent polls indicate overwhelming support for the ban, however.

Much of that is a result of the documentary co-produced by the animal rights organization Open Cages, showing gruesome footage of minks attacking each other, gnawing off limbs of other caged animals and even feasting on their remains.

“Poles don’t want fur farms,” said Bogna Witkowska, one of the group’s leaders.

Wojcik said the footage in the documentary was manipulated, adding that it was in his interest to keep animals well cared for since the condition of their fur determined their value.

In an average year, 6.5 million minks are slaughtered in Poland, putting it just behind China and Denmark in terms of fur production.

Walking past rows of cages filled with minks scheduled to be slaughtered in a few weeks, he said he saw nothing wrong with his trade.

“People should take care of animals, but in the end it’s the animals who should serve people, not the other way round,” he said.

KASZEWSKA WOLA, Poland — When the European Union condemned Poland’s government for demonizing gays and lesbians, the country’s governing coalition defiantly stood together.

KASZEWSKA WOLA, Poland — When the European Union condemned Poland’s government for demonizing gays and lesbians, the country’s governing coalition defiantly stood together. When state media was accused of spreading hate speech that fueled violence, the governing parties brushed off concerns. And when protests erupted against efforts to control the judicial system, they pressed ahead regardless. Then came the minks. Proposed legislation that would ban the farming of minks, semiaquatic mammals prized for their fur, and put in place a range of protections for other animals, opened deep divisions in the coalition that almost brought down the government. It took the intervention of Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the head of the dominant Law and Justice Party, to quell the uprising for now by taking on a formal role that allowed him to act as a buffer between opposing factions. The bill, which gained momentum after a documentary aired on Polish television showing minks living in deplorable conditions on one farm, has widespread public support and the leaders of the country’s foremost opposition party support the legislation. But the conservative governing coalition is divided over the issue, waging increasingly furious internal battles at a time when the nation is consumed with the coronavirus. All that has raised questions about the long-term viability of the government. In the face of those concerns, Kaczynski, the most powerful politician in Poland and the architect of the government’s agenda, stepped in Tuesday to be sworn in as deputy prime minister after five years of ruling from behind the scenes. Apart from separating feuding coalition partners, one of his main tasks will be trying to grow public support for the Law and Justice Party, whose candidate for president, Andrzej Duda, only managed a narrow election victory in July. It will be a difficult challenge since Kaczynski has been the driving force behind efforts by his party to marginalize the LGBT community, a campaign that has turned off many young voters. And his government has spent years at war with the European Union, despite broad support in Poland for membership in the bloc, especially among the generation born after the end of communist rule in 1989. The government also has a dismal record on environmental issues — from logging in the country’s ancient forests to failing to curb a reliance on coal. But in championing animal rights, Kaczynski sees an opportunity. “This is a pivotal moment for the party,” said Wojciech Przybylski, the editor-in-chief of Visegrad Insight, a policy journal focused on Central Europe. Kaczynski, he said, knows he needs to expand his political base to include younger, more moderate voters by sending “a message of concern about nature and animals.” The issue also seems personal for Kaczynski, who has long been known for his affection for animals. When his beloved cat, Alik, died, it was national news. The 71-year-old, who shuns nearly all requests for interviews outside of supportive media outlets, even went on TikTok to post a video promoting the #StopFurChallenge. Since coming to power in 2015, Kaczynski has rarely been challenged. But observers say the division within the coalition over the law reflects a much more profound split between factions that want to take control over the country’s conservative movement. While Kaczynski’s Law and Justice Party has long been the dominant force in the United Right coalition, it depends on the support of two junior conservative partners to stay in power: the Agreement and United Poland parties. United Poland is led by the country’s powerful justice minister, Zbigniew Ziobro, who has made no secret of his desire to become the leader of the country’s conservative movement. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki sees himself as the heir apparent. Kaczynski’s emergence as deputy prime minister was partly aimed at keeping the two men apart. Morawiecki quickly aligned himself with Kaczynski on the animal issue, posting his own video on TikTok supporting a ban on fur. Ziobro opposes the legislation and, until Kaczynski’s intervention, his party was threatening to withdraw from the coalition over it, a move that would have erased the government’s parliamentary majority. Ziobro’s opposition to the ban on mink farming reflects the industry’s deep roots in Poland. The country is home to the largest mink farms left in Europe and the third largest in the world. The bill, which is still being debated, calls for the fur farms to be closed in a year. The law would also end the use of wild animals in circuses, restrict the tethering of dogs on chains — a common practice in the countryside — and restrict the ritual slaughter of animals for meat. The bill has been loudly condemned by politicians from the far right, which has made greater inroads into politics during the five years of rule by the Law and Justice Party. Kaczynski has often used more extreme factions to push certain messages, and build his party’s power base. The far right was critical in directing public outrage at migrants, helping the Law and Justice Party rise to power in 2015. More recently, as the party cast “LGBT ideology” as a threat to the nation, ultraconservatives have been driving the messaging. Now Kaczynski risks losing some of that support. Rev. Tadeusz Rydzyk, a conservative cleric who has strong connections to Law and Order and controls a vast media empire, used his Radio Maryja station to attack the legislation. “They feel pity now over these little furs,” Rydzyk said recently, adding that the government should be focused on things like further limiting abortion rights. “Let’s not animalize man and humanize animals.” The bill is also opposed by the meat industry, which says its export business to markets with halal and kosher requirements would be badly hit. acek Zarzycki, president of the Polish Association of Beef Cattle Breeders and Producers, said that if the bill were passed, his members could lose 30% of their income. “We cannot afford that; we will lose the best export markets for Polish beef, which is the export star of Polish agriculture,” he told TVN24. But it is the minks that have drawn the most attention. And it has turned Szczepan Wojcik, who along with his four brothers controls the vast majority of the mink farms in the country, into a national figure. “I’m the most attacked person in Poland,” he said in an interview at one of his farms some 60 miles outside of Warsaw. He sees the attacks as part of a broader cultural war in Poland. “The people who started the debate in Poland about animal rights, banning the use of animals by man, for example, for furs, are exactly the same people who promote LGBT, same-sex marriage, abortion, euthanasia and so on,” he said. While he has supported Law and Justice in the past, he said his thinking was now more in line with the more conservative groups led by Ziobro and Rydzyk. Recent polls indicate overwhelming support for the ban, however. Much of that is a result of the documentary co-produced by the animal rights organization Open Cages, showing gruesome footage of minks attacking each other, gnawing off limbs of other caged animals and even feasting on their remains. “Poles don’t want fur farms,” said Bogna Witkowska, one of the group’s leaders. Wojcik said the footage in the documentary was manipulated, adding that it was in his interest to keep animals well cared for since the condition of their fur determined their value. In an average year, 6.5 million minks are slaughtered in Poland, putting it just behind China and Denmark in terms of fur production. Walking past rows of cages filled with minks scheduled to be slaughtered in a few weeks, he said he saw nothing wrong with his trade. “People should take care of animals, but in the end it’s the animals who should serve people, not the other way round,” he said.

Battle over mink fur almost brings down the Polish government

Poles were left shaken and stirred by news that a suspected British agent called James Bond was on Her Majesty's secret service in the country in the 1960s, after the country's Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) posted about him on social media. According to the institute's archive, James Bond came to Poland on Feb. 18, 1964 and was officially employed as an archivist for the British Embassy Military Attaché.

The name's Bond, seriously: 007's namesake found in Polish archive

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday that Belarus needs to close its borders with Poland and Lithuania, and strengthen border controls with Ukraine.

Belarus has been in a political crisis following an August 9 presidential election marred by vote-rigging allegations that led to mass demonstrations against Lukashenko.&nbsp;

Lukashenko says he won re-election fairly and is the victim of a smear campaign by the West.

“We are compelled to withdraw our troops from the streets, have half our army on guard and close our state border with the West, first of all with Lithuania and Poland,” Lukashenko said in a speech at a women’s forum in Minsk.&nbsp;

“To our greatest regret, we are compelled to strengthen our border with brotherly Ukraine.”

Lukashenko’s announcement comes as the United States and a slew of European countries have stepped up scrutiny of Belarus over alleged irregularities in the country’s August election and repression of protests since.

To this end, Polish deputy foreign minister Pawel Jablonski told Reuters by text message: “We take this as another element of the propaganda campaign, a psychological game which aims to create a sense of an external threat.”

Lithuanian border guard chief Rustamas Liubajevas said the border there was also operating as usual.

Meanwhile, Denmark said on Thursday that seventeen members of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have appointed an independent team of experts to investigate alleged rights violations in the August presidential election.

The mission is expected to publish a report within six to eight weeks.

It will investigate reports of persecution of candidates, journalists and activists as well as excessive use of force against peaceful protesters, illegal detention and torture.

Speaking on a visit to Washington, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he believed the game plan of Lukashenko and his main backer, Russian President Vladimir Putin, was to “try to sit this out”.

Minsk prevented the deployment of OSCE election observers by not inviting them, and has ignored repeated offers by the OSCE chairman, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, to visit.

The OSCE members behind the mission are Denmark, Belgium, Canada, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Britain, the Czech Republic and the United States. 
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Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday that Belarus needs to close its borders with Poland and Lithuania, and strengthen border controls with Ukraine.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday that Belarus needs to close its borders with Poland and Lithuania, and strengthen border controls with Ukraine. Belarus has been in a political crisis following an August 9 presidential election marred by vote-rigging allegations that led to mass demonstrations against Lukashenko. Lukashenko says he won re-election fairly and is the victim of a smear campaign by the West. “We are compelled to withdraw our troops from the streets, have half our army on guard and close our state border with the West, first of all with Lithuania and Poland,” Lukashenko said in a speech at a women’s forum in Minsk. “To our greatest regret, we are compelled to strengthen our border with brotherly Ukraine.” Lukashenko’s announcement comes as the United States and a slew of European countries have stepped up scrutiny of Belarus over alleged irregularities in the country’s August election and repression of protests since. To this end, Polish deputy foreign minister Pawel Jablonski told Reuters by text message: “We take this as another element of the propaganda campaign, a psychological game which aims to create a sense of an external threat.” Lithuanian border guard chief Rustamas Liubajevas said the border there was also operating as usual. Meanwhile, Denmark said on Thursday that seventeen members of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have appointed an independent team of experts to investigate alleged rights violations in the August presidential election. The mission is expected to publish a report within six to eight weeks. It will investigate reports of persecution of candidates, journalists and activists as well as excessive use of force against peaceful protesters, illegal detention and torture. Speaking on a visit to Washington, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he believed the game plan of Lukashenko and his main backer, Russian President Vladimir Putin, was to “try to sit this out”. Minsk prevented the deployment of OSCE election observers by not inviting them, and has ignored repeated offers by the OSCE chairman, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, to visit. The OSCE members behind the mission are Denmark, Belgium, Canada, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Britain, the Czech Republic and the United States.

Belarus to close borders with Poland and Lithuania

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