The editorial position of Nowiny Wschodnie
in the case of the assault of a couple from Ukraine on a tram in Poznań
After the publication of the article about the brutal assault of a Ukrainian couple on a tram in Poznań on the portal Eastern News and on our social media, the material met with great interest and sparked intense discussion among readers. (Facebook post NW)
Some comments stated that the people attacked were using Russian language, and not Ukrainian, which – according to some commentators – was supposed to “change the assessment” of the entire event. Therefore, the editorial team deems it necessary to take a clear position on this.
Violence has no justification
Editorial team Eastern News clearly condemns all forms of violence – both verbal and physical – regardless of the language, nationality, origin or beliefs of the victim.
Those who attacked a couple from Ukraine must face the consequences of their actions. According to the District Prosecutor’s Office in Poznań, two 27-year-old suspects have been charged with attacks and discrimination on the basis of nationality. They face a penalty of up to 5 years imprisonment. The prosecutor’s office clearly indicated that the attack was xenophobic background.
Language does not define nationality
We want to clearly emphasize:
the language a person speaks does not determine his or her nationality or his or her value as a human being.
Since 2014, and especially after 2022, we have been observing refugees from various regions of Ukraine in Poland – including occupied or previously heavily Russified territories, where the Ukrainian language was marginalized for decades and sometimes even banned. Many Ukrainian citizens speak Russian, Surzhyk, or various dialects in their daily lives.
The fact that the victim of the attack spoke Russian, doesn’t make her less Ukrainian and in no way does not justify violence.
It is worth recalling that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also frequently used Russian before the war and in the early period of his public career. This did not undermine either his identity or his right to represent the Ukrainian state.
Propaganda narratives must not be repeated
We are observing the attempts with great concern dividing people within one nation into “better” and “worse” depending on the language. These kinds of narratives have been used for years by propaganda, whose aim is to divide societies, sow hatred and weaken solidarity.
As an editorial team, we firmly oppose such divisions. Our mission is connecting people, not dividing them, especially in the face of aggression, war and disinformation.
The editorial team’s clear position
We emphasize once again:
– we condemn the attack on the Ukrainian couple in Poznań,
– we do not accept any attempts to justify violence,
– the language used by the victim is irrelevant for the assessment of the incident,
– xenophobia and violence are unacceptable – regardless of whether they concern a Pole abroad or a Ukrainian in Poland.
Solidarity, empathy and social responsibility are values that should stand above emotions and simplifications.
Editorial Office of Nowiny Wschodnie
Journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Nowiny Wschodnie, a news platform followed by more than 140,000 people on social media. A graduate in Journalism and Social Communication, he has been co-creating and developing Nowiny Wschodnie since 2017. He gained professional experience working with local and international media.
He specializes in fact-checking, countering disinformation and propaganda, and information security. His work focuses on Poland, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, and Polish-Ukrainian relations. He is also the founder of a non-profit organization working in the fields of integration and intercultural dialogue.
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