Dariusz Pawliszczy apologized for the greetings, but stresses that he is not a nationalist because the slogan “Slava Ukraini! Heroiam slava!” is widely used in Ukraine. It could be heard especially during Ukrainians’ struggle for independence from Russia.
The Christmas greetings from the head of Gromadka displeased Jelenia Góra councillor Mariusz Gierus (Law and Justice), who deals with the history of Poles and commemorating the victims of genocide in the Borderlands of the Republic of Poland.
The councillor concluded that Dariusz Pawliszczy, the head of a Polish municipality and an ethnic Ukrainian, had posted online greetings ending with a salutation used by members of the revolutionary faction of Stepan Bandera’s Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, who took part in massacres of Poles, including in Volhynia.
– I represent the Borderlands community and accept this apology. However, I am not convinced by the information that this was an unintentional act by the mayor. Personally, I see it as analogous to a situation in which the head of a municipality in Opole voivodeship, wishing his community a happy holiday in German, used the phrase “Sieg Heil” at the end – explains Mariusz Gierus.
The councillor is aware of his harsh words and the fact that people may not share the sensitivity associated with the Borderlands, which is why he cites an analogy to a fascist salute in the media.
– Unfortunately, this story has shown that Poland failed, for various reasons, to ensure that this slogan (Slava Ukraini! Heroiam slava! – editor’s note) had a direct connection with all those victims who not only died in horrific circumstances upon hearing it, but whose memory has still not been fully restored today. I understand the arguments for looking to the future, but for too many people this wound has still not healed. I am a living example of this. I have been to the Borderlands once in my life, to my grandfather’s grave, and I am one of the few whose family has a mass grave in the Borderlands – the councillor adds.
On the right, a frenzy over a Banderist!
Right-wing media picked up the story. Najwyższy Czas published an article titled: “Disgusting provocation by the head of a Polish municipality. Banderist greeting in Christmas wishes”. Later, Dariusz Pawliszczy received a call from someone claiming that he should leave for Ukraine because he had no right to hold office in a Polish municipality and should be paid in hryvnias, not Polish zlotys. The Najwyższy Czas article also featured a photograph of the mayor’s granddaughter by the Christmas tree, which he had attached to his greetings. In the photograph, the councillor Mariusz Gierus noticed a resemblance between the young girl’s dancing pose and the Roman salute.
Pawliszczy’s greeting post, interpreted in this way, spread across the internet and fueled the emotions of Polish nationalists. The topic “Banderist as head of Gromadka?” was also posted on the istotne.pl forum by an anonymous internet user. Unpleasant posts and typical hate-filled arguments began appearing under the topic. Since January 6, during the Christmas period observed by the mayor according to the Orthodox rite, Dariusz Pawliszczy has been receiving messages containing hateful content.
Slava Ukraini! as the slogan of Ukrainians’ struggle for independence from Russia
Zygmunt Brusiło, a regional historian, believes that the expression “Slava Ukraini!” is now associated by Poles with the wave of freedom-oriented, anti-Russian demonstrations and protests in Ukraine in 2013 and the war in Donbas. The call was also used by President Andrzej Duda and Jarosław Kaczyński during visits to Ukraine.
This opinion is confirmed by Professor Roman Drozd, a Polish historian of Ukrainian origin specializing in the modern history of Poland and Eastern Europe in the 20th century, an academic teacher associated with the Pomeranian Academy in Słupsk and its rector from 2008 to 2016. He also adds that the entire controversy surrounding the mayor’s greetings is an example of the saying that when someone wants to strike, a stick will always be found.
– It is a commonly used call, and looking for negative undertones in it is making a mountain out of a molehill. Ukrainian nationalists, seeking to establish their own state, adopted earlier state traditions. They wore the symbol of the trident [symbol władzy Włodzimierza Wielkiego władcy Rusi Kijowskiej -przyp. red], which was the official coat of arms of the Ukrainian People’s Republic in 1917–1921 and is now the emblem of modern Ukraine. Should it now be banned because the UPA used this coat of arms? – Professor Roman Drozd asks rhetorically.
The same applies to the phrase “Slava Ukrainii”, which appeared as early as the mid-19th century and was used by the Ukrainian national poet Taras Shevchenko in his poems; others followed in his footsteps.
– The call gained greater prominence during the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917–21, when it became widespread among soldiers of the Ukrainian People’s Republic; responses such as “Ukrainii slava” and “Kozakam slava” also began to appear – the professor explains. – It evolved, and in the mid-1920s the response “Heroiam slava” appeared. It was adopted by the Ukrainian underground and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and also became their call. It did not function during the communist period; it was banned. It was revived during the rebuilding of Ukrainian statehood, especially during the Revolution of Dignity, which made it the official call of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Every president who visits Ukraine and greets an honor guard uses this call. President Andrzej Duda did so during his visit to Kyiv, as did Jarosław Kaczyński in 2013, when he visited protesters on the Euromaidan – the historian says.
Mayor Pawliszczy also represents this view.
– “Slava Ukraini!” is the slogan of the Anti-Terrorist Operation in eastern Ukraine and of Ukrainians’ struggle for independence from Russia – explains Dariusz Pawliszczy. – That is how I understand it. My greetings had no ideological connotations. I am not a nationalist – the mayor stresses.
Dariusz Pawliszczy has served as head of the municipality for four terms and is regarded as an excellent administrator who has done much for this part of Poland.
– I am Ukrainian and do not hide it. Many Poles live abroad and are proud of their national identity, just as I am proud of my Ukrainian identity. I am head of the municipality as a Polish citizen. The municipality I lead is the best in the county; we have the best results and are one of the fastest-developing municipalities in Poland. As an exceptional achievement on a national scale, I can mention the construction of a second indoor swimming pool. We developed an economic zone where we provide thousands of jobs, all our roads and pavements have been renovated, we have lighting and a complete sports infrastructure – the mayor adds.
Dariusz Pawliszczy sent the articles defaming him to the Main Board of the Union of Ukrainians and to the Ukrainian Consulate in Kraków. The matter has deeply upset him. He did not know that holiday greetings would cause him so much unpleasantness. The worst part was the publication of a photograph of the mayor’s young granddaughter and the claim that the child was making a Roman salute.