Polish Parliament Approves Amnesty Bill for Citizens Fighting in Ukraine
WARSAW — The Polish Parliament has overwhelmingly voted in favor of a new legislative measure designed to grant amnesty to Polish citizens who have taken up arms alongside the Ukrainian Armed Forces in their defense against the ongoing Russian invasion. The vote, which took place in the Sejm, the lower house of the parliament, displayed a rare moment of near-total political unity regarding the nation’s foreign policy and support for its eastern neighbor.
According to the official tally, 404 Members of Parliament voted in support of the new law, while only four MPs voted against the measure. The legislation addresses a significant legal hurdle that has loomed over volunteers since the escalation of the conflict in February 2022. Under the existing Polish Penal Code, serving in a foreign military organization without first obtaining formal permission from the Ministry of National Defense constitutes a criminal offense.
Prior to this vote, Polish nationals who bypassed the often lengthy bureaucratic process to obtain official authorization faced the prospect of criminal liability upon their return to Poland. The standard penalty for serving in a foreign army without the required consent is up to five years of imprisonment. This legal reality created a precarious situation for volunteers who felt compelled to assist Kyiv immediately following the invasion but did not secure the necessary permits beforehand.
The new legislation effectively removes the threat of incarceration for these individuals, acknowledging the unique geopolitical circumstances and Poland’s strategic alignment with Ukraine. By decriminalizing this specific service, the Polish state is retroactively validating the decisions of its citizens who volunteered for the International Legion for the Territorial Defense of Ukraine or other units within the Ukrainian military structure.
Observers note that the lopsided 404-to-4 vote underscores the deep consensus within Warsaw regarding the security implications of the war. Poland has remained one of Ukraine’s staunchest allies within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union, serving as a primary logistical hub for military aid and hosting millions of Ukrainian refugees. This legal adjustment serves as a domestic reinforcement of that foreign policy, ensuring that Polish citizens contributing to the war effort are not penalized by their own government for actions aligned with national interests.
The bill brings clarity to the legal status of an undisclosed number of Polish volunteers currently active across the border. While the specific number of Poles fighting in Ukraine remains classified, the passage of this law removes a significant barrier to their eventual repatriation and reintegration into Polish society.
