A Polish lawmaker has come under heavy criticism after suggesting that the death of a soldier on the Polish-Belarusian border was caused by the government’s “militaristic” migration policy. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz rejected the accusation, describing the soldier’s death as a “brutal and deliberate attack,” not a result of state policy.
The incident occurred in May 2024 when Sergeant Mateusz Sitek, aged 21, was stabbed in the chest while trying to block a group of about 50 migrants attempting to breach the border near Dubicze Cerkiewne in eastern Poland. The soldier later died in a Warsaw military hospital, and his death has become a deeply emotional moment in Poland’s ongoing migration debate.
The eastern frontier has been the center of a tense standoff since 2021, as thousands of people from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia have tried to cross from Belarus into the European Union. Western governments accuse Belarus, a close ally of Russia, of orchestrating the crisis to destabilize Europe. However, human rights groups have also condemned Poland’s response, pointing to reports of violence, illegal “pushbacks,” and deaths among migrants stranded in harsh border conditions.
The controversy erupted after Franciszek Sterczewski, a member of Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s Civic Coalition (KO), said in a TV interview that Sitek “would not have died if there had been civil and legal procedures in place instead of scuffles and conflicts.” He called for a less aggressive and more humanitarian approach to border security, warning that Poland’s militarized stance was only worsening tensions.
Why did Sterczewski’s comments spark outrage in Poland?
His remarks were viewed as disrespectful toward the late soldier and those serving on the frontier. Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz immediately responded on social media, calling the comments “untrue and unacceptable.” He said, “Sergeant Sitek died as a result of a brutal and deliberate assault, not due to procedural errors or scuffles,” emphasizing that soldiers guarding the border were protecting the nation. He demanded a public apology and retraction from Sterczewski.
Poland’s National Security Bureau (BBN) also condemned the statement, describing it as “scandalous, unacceptable, and false.” The bureau posted that Sitek “died guarding the inviolability of the border of our homeland, for which he deserves eternal memory and honor.” The post also referenced Sterczewski’s past activism, including his attempts to deliver aid to migrants stranded on the frontier — actions that have long divided Polish public opinion.
Sergeant Sitek has since been posthumously promoted and awarded the Gold Medal for Merit in National Defense. A M1A1 Abrams tank and a new unit in the Territorial Defense Forces have been named in his honor, symbolizing national gratitude for his service.
Sterczewski, who identifies as an independent MP within the KO parliamentary group, has faced other controversies. He was recently detained and expelled from Israel for taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian mission aimed at breaking the blockade of Gaza. Upon returning to Poland, he criticized the government’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, leading to further political tension within his party.
The tragic death of Sergeant Sitek has once again exposed the deep divide in Poland’s migration debate. While some call for stronger border control to defend national security, others argue for more humane and lawful responses to the migrant crisis. As the situation along the Belarus border remains volatile, Poland continues to wrestle with how to balance compassion with protection.