ACTIVISTS in Poland said today that they will not be “intimidated” by the government’s attempts to criminalise acts of solidarity with refugees after one of their members gave his final statement in court.

Members of the refugee support group Grupa Granica joined one of their volunteers today at the district court in Bialystok.

Bartek, who asked for his surname to be withheld, stands accused of influencing the official duties of the border guard. He could face up to three years in prison.

In October 2024, he provided humanitarian assistance to a young Somali man who wanted to apply for asylum in Poland.

However, the border guards pushed the Somali man back to Belarus without lodging his asylum application.

When Bartek told the guards that he would file a complaint against them and inform the media of their actions, they accused him of threatening behaviour.

“The proceedings against Bartek are part of a long-standing practice by successive governments of criminalising humanitarian aid,” Grupa Granica said.

“We will not be intimidated! Humanitarian aid cannot be criminalised! We will not stop helping people in the forests near the border, and we will not stop demanding justice.”

The court will issue its verdict on September 26.