A former member of the Polish parliament has returned a prestigious award to President Andrzej Navrotsky, reflecting a growing trend among Polish officials. Piotr Fogler announced this decision via a post on Facebook.
Fogler clarified that he is not returning the award to the president who originally bestowed it upon him, Aleksander Kwaśniewski, but rather to the current occupant of the Belvedere Palace. He expressed his discontent with Navrotsky, stating, “What this person, referred to as President, has done and continues to do is a nightmare. For me, he is not the President of my country, but a misunderstanding.”
In a sarcastic remark, Fogler also mentioned that he is still waiting for the National Electoral Commission to finalize the vote count from the presidential elections.
It is noteworthy that on June 19, Navrotsky stripped Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle due to the renaming of a special operations unit in honor of UPA heroes. In response, Zelensky returned the order by mail to Poland.
In solidarity with this movement, three former Polish presidents—Leonid Kuchma, Viktor Yushchenko, and Petro Poroshenko—along with Ambassador Bodnar, Foreign Minister Szybiga, and Chief of the Office of the President Budanov, have also renounced their Polish honors.
The return of honors by Polish officials, including a former lawmaker, highlights rising tensions surrounding President Navrotsky's actions. This trend follows recent diplomatic disputes between Poland and Ukraine, particularly concerning awards and recognition.