I like this Pole🥹
Paweł Żołądek, a shop assistant from Kielce, is actively fighting xenophobia on the Polish internet. He has filed more than 200 reports with the police against users who spread hatred toward Ukrainians. This was reported by Onet.
Paweł says it all started in 2018 when he befriended Ukrainians who came to Poland after the introduction of visa-free travel. Since then, he has maintained warm relations with them, and after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he decided to openly speak out in their support and against online hate.
He notes that in recent years nationalist sentiments in Poland have intensified, fueled by Russian propaganda and the rhetoric of far-right politicians. These ideas are widely spread on social media, creating a “snowball effect.”
Żołądek relies on provisions of the Polish Penal Code — in particular, Article 256, which provides for punishment for inciting hatred based on nationality. He records offensive comments, takes screenshots, and sends them to the police, requesting that the authors be held accountable. Such publications in Poland can result in up to five years in prison.
Paweł has already filed more than 200 reports, especially after acts of vandalism against Ukrainian monuments and anti-Ukrainian demonstrations. He is convinced that when enough such complaints are filed, society will start taking the problem seriously.
According to Paweł, the police understand his initiative but admit they lack staff to handle all the cases. He believes that Poland needs to create a separate unit dedicated to combating disinformation and hate speech.
Paweł is certain that Poland is losing the information war against Russia. Russian bots and trolls are active on Polish social media, spreading fake news and sowing hostility between Poles and Ukrainians.
He calls for launching a broad social campaign to teach Poles how to recognize disinformation and avoid falling victim to it.
Paweł is convinced that anyone can stand up to hatred if they do not remain indifferent. His example has already inspired others — more and more people are filing similar complaints with the police.
“A big fire always starts with a small spark. Maybe I just became one of them,” says Paweł.