Polish President Karol Nawrocki Submits Bill on Volyn Massacre Denial and Migration Reforms

President Nawrocki Proposes Sweeping Legislative Changes

Polish President Karol Nawrocki, who took office on August 6, 2025, has submitted a comprehensive bill to the Sejm, Poland's lower house of parliament, addressing contentious historical issues and tightening immigration regulations. The proposed legislation, introduced on September 29, 2025, aims to criminalize the denial of the Volyn massacre, equate symbols of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) with Nazi and Communist totalitarian symbols, and implement stricter rules for migration, including extended paths to citizenship and increased penalties for illegal border crossings.

Historical Reappraisal: Volyn Massacre and UPA Symbols

A central component of President Nawrocki's bill is the criminalization of 'false claims' regarding the Volyn massacres and other historical crimes attributed to certain Ukrainian groups during World War II. The legislation introduces criminal liability for the 'propaganda of Bandera ideology' and the denial of the Volyn tragedy. Furthermore, it seeks to amend Poland's criminal code to equate 'Bandera symbols' – referring to the iconography of the controversial Ukrainian nationalist leader Stepan Bandera and the UPA – with symbols of Nazism and Communism. This provision could lead to penalties of up to three years in prison for promoting such symbols.

The Volyn massacres, which occurred between 1943 and 1944/1945 in the regions of Volhynia and Eastern Galicia, saw the UPA and the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands, potentially up to 100,000 ethnic Poles. Poland officially recognizes these events as a genocide, a classification that remains a point of tension in Polish-Ukrainian relations. President Nawrocki, a historian and former head of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), has previously advocated for historical truth and the exhumation of victims.

Tightening Migration Policies

The bill also proposes significant changes to Poland's migration framework. Key amendments include:

• Extended Path to Citizenship: The period required to qualify for Polish citizenship would be lengthened, with President Nawrocki specifically suggesting an extension from three to 10 years.
• Harsher Penalties for Illegal Border Crossings: The maximum sentence for illegal border crossings is proposed to be increased, potentially up to five years.

These migration proposals follow President Nawrocki's earlier veto in August 2025 of a bill that would have extended support for Ukrainian refugees in Poland. At that time, he argued that benefits, such as the '800 plus' child benefit, should only be available to Ukrainian citizens who are employed in Poland. The reintroduction of these measures underscores a broader shift towards a more restrictive immigration stance, aligning with President Nawrocki's 'Poland first, Poles first' campaign slogan.

Context of Presidential Stance

President Nawrocki's legislative initiatives reflect his national-conservative political platform and his focus on national identity and sovereignty. His election in June 2025, backed by the Law and Justice (PiS) party, signaled a potential for increased friction with the pro-European government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk. While maintaining support for Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression, President Nawrocki has consistently highlighted historical grievances, indicating a more assertive approach to Polish-Ukrainian relations.