According to findings by the portal Niezalezna.pl, prosecution files indicate that the Grupa Granica (an informal activist network operating at Poland’s eastern border) was a key player in the human smuggling operation across Poland’s eastern border. The group operated in the “in the secretive core of the underground network,” using coded language to conceal its true intentions. Activists from this informal organization received support from none other than today’s Minister of Justice and the city of Gdańsk, which is governed by the Civic Coalition.
To begin, let’s recall a snippet of a conversation held via the encrypted messaging app Signal between Klementyna Suchanow (KS)—currently an expert on the Stróżyk commission for Russian influence—and Justyna W. (JW), an activist suspected of helping organize illegal border crossings:
- SIGNAL – KS: “Yes, it’s me on Signal. I’m checking out people’s capabilities. I can connect you with an Afghan woman who speaks several languages. She arrived recently, but she has a three-month-old baby and a five-year-old, so she might be able to help on-site and during the day.”
- SIGNAL – JW: “Ok, what about drivers? Any chance?”
- SIGNAL – KS: “So far I’ve only found people with burns. Folks are working with Granica. Maybe they could help get someone out?”
- SIGNAL – JW: “We’re working with GG. With GG’s underground of the underground. They’re extracting people, but we don’t have drivers.”
The reference is clearly to Grupa Granica—an informal collective of activists from various leftist organizations. In fact, the phone of one Iraqi national apprehended by Polish authorities contained a record of a conversation with someone listed as “Border Group,” which translates to “Grupa Granica.” That chat began with: “Hello, we are humanitarian activists from Poland.”
Who supported Grupa Granica as its members helped smuggle migrants across Poland’s eastern border into Western Europe? In January 2023, Adam Bodnar—now Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General—released a video in which he praised the group’s activities.
Grupa Granica managed to win 10 landmark court rulings. In all these cases, courts consistently confirmed that practices such as pushbacks, denial of humanitarian aid, failure to process asylum applications, and collective expulsions of foreigners beyond Poland’s borders violate human rights standards under the Polish Constitution, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, and the European Convention on Human Rights. “I would like to sincerely thank all the activists and lawyers associated with Grupa Granica for what you did in 2022,” said Bodnar.
Grupa Granica also expressed its gratitude to Bodnar:
“We sincerely thank Prof. Bodnar for his support in raising awareness of human rights violations on the Polish-Belarusian border!”
The group was also supported by the city of Gdańsk, governed by the Civic Coalition.
“Be There for Others” is a social campaign launched by Grupa Granica, and Gdańsk was the first city to join. Posters promoting the initiative appeared on buses and at bus stops. In a gesture of solidarity with refugees, borderland residents, and volunteers, landmarks such as Neptune’s Fountain, the viaduct near the Baltic Gallery, and one of the port cranes were lit up green—reported the Gdańsk city website in November 2021.
Activists aiding in this illicit activity were also praised by the media elite of the Third Republic of Poland. In 2021, Grupa Granica was nominated for the Grand Press award. The justification?
“Grupa Granica monitors events, documents legal violations, and records refugees’ stories. They provide information—without advanced equipment, satellite vans, or a newsroom—by harnessing the power of social media. At a time when media freedom is shrinking, Grupa Granica upholds our right to know about the most critical conflict in Poland this year.”