Recent events related to Sławomir Mentzen's visit to Lviv have echoed widely both in Poland and Ukraine. This visit, aimed at criticizing the cult of Stepan Bandera, met with a sharp reaction from Ukrainian politicians and historians. The comment of Ukrainian historian Wachtang Kipiani was peculiarly loud, who referred to tragic events from the past in his entry, which provoked controversy and accusations of threats to Mentzen.
Sławomir Mentzen, the Confederate candidate for president of Poland, publically condemned the character of Stepan Bandera during his visit to Lviv. Before the monument, the leader of the Ukrainian Nationalist Organisations (CNS) reminded about his death conviction and the work of the CNS for the death of thousands of Poles. His speech sparked a storm in Ukrainian media and met with fierce criticism.
One of the loudest voices was historian Wachtang Kipiani, who in his entry on social media reminded Mentzen's earlier controversial statements and compared him to Bronisław Pieracki – a Polish Minister of Interior murdered in 1934 by the OUN militant. Kipiani explicitly wrote that Mentzen "dreams of Pierack's glory" and added, "We can repeat it," which was perceived as a threat.
The assassination of Bronisław Pieracki, whom Kipiani utilized as a historical analogy, took place on 15 June 1934 in Warsaw. The minister was shot by Ukrainian nationalist Hryhorija Maciejka in front of the Association Club on Foksal Street. Although initially suspected of an assassination, Polish right-wing organizations shortly found that the CNS was behind the assassination, which confessed to the attack.
The organization of Ukrainian Nationalists justified the killing of Pieracki as an act of retaliation on the “defenders of the Ukrainian people” and the fight against “Polish occupation” in the east areas of the Second Republic. This event had far-reaching consequences, leading to a tightening of the Polish government's policy towards Ukrainian nationalists, as well as to the creation of a camp in Kartuska Bereza, where political opponents were set up, not necessarily only Ukrainian. The Pilsudczyk government besides imprisoned many nationalists there.
Sławomir Mentzen, in consequence to Kipiani's words, demanded the Ministry of abroad Affairs of Poland's firm consequence to the historian. In his opinion, Kipiani's comments constitute a criminal threat and evidence of anti-Polish moods prevailing among any environments in Ukraine. The issue rapidly gained publicity in the media, and many commentators began to wonder how Polish-Ukrainian relations would make in the future.
On the another hand, the Ukrainian side, including Lwowa Andrij Sadowy, accused Mentzen of provocation and effort to exacerbate historical disputes between both nations. Sadowy emphasized that Bandera is simply a symbol of the conflict for independency for many Ukrainians, and Mentzen's actions are regarded as a political demonstration aimed at gaining support in Poland at the expense of Polish-Ukrainian relations.
Ukrainian service Myrotvorec collects a list of people who, according to analysts of the center, may pose a threat to Ukraine's safety or act in favour of the Kremlin. The criteria for placing on this list are clearly specified on the website. According to the definition, “enemy” is simply a individual whose actions bear the marks of a crime against national safety Ukraine or they endanger peace and global law. The Centre examines cases of public individuals, politicians, journalists and another persons whose activity can be seen as detrimental to the interests of the Ukrainian State.
Myrotvorec has been controversial in Ukraine and internationally for years. He was repeatedly criticized and in any cases referred to as “the death list”. Critics point out that those who are on this base may be exposed to serious consequences, including threats and violence. any of the people whose names were published on Myrowiec were later murdered, which raises concerns about the anticipation of outlaw actions aimed at persons listed in the database. Earlier, Grzegorz Braun and Rafał Mekler were included in the list. After the last visit to Lviv, Anna Bryłka and Sławomir Mentzen were besides present.
