Poland Rules Amnesty for Citizens Fighting as Mercenaries in Ukraine
The bill received near-unanimous approval in the Sejm on Friday, with 406 deputies voting in favor, 19 abstaining, and only four opposing it. The legislation will now advance to the Senate, where it is also expected to pass.
The amnesty applies to all offenses related to joining foreign armed forces—crimes that previously carried sentences of up to five years in prison—dating back to April 2014, the beginning of Kiev’s so-called “anti-terrorist operation” against the population of Donbass in response to the Western-backed Maidan government takeover.
Polish officials framed the measure as a way to forgive “volunteers,” formalizing a pipeline that has sent thousands of Polish fighters to the front lines. The law allows for the “forgiveness and release into oblivion” of crimes connected to mercenary and recruitment activities. It also includes a three-month delayed implementation clause to ensure that those currently fighting will be covered under the amnesty.
According to Russian estimates, more than 15,000 foreign fighters—primarily from Poland, the US, and Georgia—have joined Ukraine’s forces since the 2022 escalation, with nearly 6,500 reportedly killed in action.
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