Robert Bąkiewicz Faces Charges for Border Incident

The news in Polish

1. aktywista  (m.)
   Osoba działająca aktywnie na rzecz jakiejś idei lub sprawy. ↩︎
2. oskarżyć
   Udzielenie komuś zarzutów o popełnienie przestępstwa. ↩︎
3. strażnik  (m.)
   Osoba pilnująca porządku i bezpieczeństwa w określonym miejscu. ↩︎
4. dochodzenie  (n.)
   Proces zbierania informacji w celu wyjaśnienia jakiejś sprawy, często sądowej. ↩︎
5. opinia  (f.)
   Przekonanie lub pogląd na określony temat. ↩︎
6. protest  (m.)
   Publiczne wyrażenie sprzeciwu wobec czegoś. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Who is leading the investigation against Robert Bąkiewicz?

Question 2: What does Robert Bąkiewicz claim regarding his actions at the border?

Vocabulary

Polish	English
aktywista  (m.)	activist
oskarżyć	accused
strażnik  (m.)	guard
dochodzenie  (n.)	investigation
opinia  (f.)	opinions
protest  (m.)	protest

Read the full story

Robert Bąkiewicz, a prominent Polish activist, has come under legal scrutiny following an incident at the Polish-German border on 29 June 2025. The Prosecutor’s Office in Szczecin announced plans to charge Bąkiewicz with insulting Polish border guards and military police officers during their official duties at the Słubice border crossing.

The incident involved Bąkiewicz, who leads the Ruch Obrony Granic (Border Defence Movement), confronting border officers and accusing them of executing orders that “dishonoured the Polish uniform.” In a video he posted online, Bąkiewicz is heard questioning their loyalty and honour, urging them not to comply with what he claimed were German directives regarding migrant handling.

The Prosecutor General in Szczecin has ordered a formal investigation into the matter, following the reported altercation with the security personnel. This move is set against a backdrop of ongoing citizenship patrols organized by Bąkiewicz and the Border Defence Movement, which aim to monitor and prevent unauthorized crossings from Germany. However, critics, including former Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak, have characterised these activities as provocative rather than cooperative, pointing out attempts to incite disturbances.

A recent public opinion survey by Opinia24 indicates that Bąkiewicz’s activities garner mixed reactions among Poles. Over half of the respondents view these patrols positively, with 30% considering them “definitely beneficial” and another 24% “rather beneficial.” Meanwhile, the initiative faces dissent from 34% of the population, and 12% remain undecided. The support is more pronounced among men than women, suggesting a gender divide in perspectives.

As the legal proceedings unfold, Bąkiewicz continues to defend his actions, citing constitutional rights to assembly and accusing government authorities of suppressing citizen-led initiatives. This incident also comes after Bąkiewicz’s recent partial pardon by President Andrzej Duda for a separate conviction related to a confrontation during a women’s rights demonstration in 2020.

The situation at the Polish-German border and the actions of the Border Defence Movement remain subjects of significant public and media attention, as Polish authorities navigate the complexities of national security, immigration, and civil liberties.

Info: ‘Polish Learner News’ is a service from ‘Let’s Learn Polish’, a language school dedicated to teaching the Polish language. We offer various online courses including Polish for beginners, designed to help new learners get started on their language journey.