Speeches

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, I'm sorry. We are all concerned about the recent wave of tensions in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. This year is already one of the deadliest for Palestinians in the West Bank in more than a decade. They experience violence from the Israeli security forces, but also from the settlers. At the same time, all terrorist attacks in Israel must be condemned. These attacks are carried out by Islamic terrorists and emphasize that terrorism remains one of the most important threats to the security of the Middle East as well as Europe. Ladies and Gentlemen, in a few days we will be celebrating Christmas, so it is impossible not to mention here the Palestinians who have remained faithful to their faith for centuries in Bethlehem, in Nazareth, and today are experiencing persecution from both Israel and their Islamic kinsmen. I think that, especially in these days, the European Parliament should voice its support for Palestinian Christians in Israel.

Commissioner, I'm sorry. Thank you very much, but on a specific example, I am a resident of Szczecin, a former sailor. My colleagues from the port give a concrete example. At the moment, there is an attempt to take over, on the basis of the legislation in force in Poland, because you are 100% right, in that it is the Member States that must take care of their security first and foremost. Poland is doing very well with this. The Ministry of Defence has repeatedly refused to purchase sensitive parts of the Tri-City, Gdańsk or Gdynia ports, but on a specific example: Today in the Szczecin port there is an attempt to take over not property, not land, but an operational company dealing with transhipments important from the point of view of energy security, cargoes. And now this company is to be taken over by a German company. The port authorities say something like this: we have a problem. The relevant institutions in Poland say we have a problem, because in a moment the European Commission, if we refuse to sell this part of the shares, the European Commission may question it as acting against competition, against the free movement of funds within the European Union.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, I'm sorry. It was already discussed how much controversy was caused by the visit of the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to China, as well as the decision to make shares available to the Chinese company Cosco in a new project of the Hamburg port, which is to consist in the construction of a new section of the container port. Today, German media report that Cosco's activities in Hamburg are just the beginning. There is credible information that China has long discussed with the Hamburg Port Authority the possibility of German involvement in cooperation with China in the Mediterranean and Baltic basins. According to the document of the Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology, it was also agreed to look for the possibility of jointly acquiring shares in container terminals in Polish ports. Why am I talking about this? I would like to ask if the European Commission is looking at this type of action because we are in the European Union and we all agree that China's takeover of strategic infrastructure is a threat to our security and to our sovereignty. But under the guise of cooperation between Chinese companies and partners in the European Union, such as this example, will there not be an attempt to enter our ports through the back door?

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Prime Minister, I'm sorry. I would like to thank you for your words to us in this House. It is extremely important that representatives of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe be present and heard in the debate on the future of Europe in the European Parliament. Too often, unfortunately, you could feel and hear from the representatives of the so-called old Union that countries such as Slovenia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, or finally my country, Poland, are countries that are allowed less, because supposedly our democracies are immature. In contrast to the supposedly mature democracies of countries such as Germany, France and the Netherlands. The consequences of such a policy are shown today by the war in Ukraine. They did not listen to the voices coming from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia or other countries that experienced the benefits of Russia in their history, be it tsarist Russia, Bolshevik Russia or Putin's Russia in recent years. And fortunately, today from the mouths of representatives of the EU institutions you can also hear - badly, that we did not listen to Poland. Mr. Prime Minister, there were some points in your speech that I completely agree with. I am thinking, for example, of the presence of the Western Balkan countries in the European Union. It is obvious that if they turned their backs on Bosnia and Herzegovina, the country will sooner or later be in the sphere of influence of Russia and even Saudi Wahhabis. But allow me to remain skeptical of some of your theses here. As I live, I am not given the belief that vegetarianism or a new secular religion with regard to climate issues is the way to the universal happiness of humanity. Unfortunately, on the occasion of your speech, some of my previous speakers resounded with hypocritical words. You are from our political family, you are law-abiding and worthy of full support. If you are outside this family, you are a threat to the rule of law and democracy. And you know that it is darkest under the lighthouse, as shown by the recent affair with the Vice-President of the European Parliament.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, What we are witnessing today in Ukraine is the barbarism of Putin's spawners, who, unable to defeat Ukrainian soldiers on the battlefield, resorted to attacks on civilian objects and, above all, on critical infrastructure, which has resulted in practical attacks on most of Ukraine's major cities. All this should make us realize that today, in the face of this Russian satrap, no state in Europe is safe. Last week, as a result of these barbaric missile attacks, about which the Commissioner spoke, I would like to thank you very much for these words, because they were true words, showing in a real light what Ukrainians are experiencing today - also in Poland, in a Member State of the European Union, two of my compatriots died because a rocket fell on the territory of Poland. I think it is a good time for all those of you, especially here on the left, who are attacking Poland, attacking Poland as a front country, a loyal country of the European Union, to remember. For example, we remember all these foolish attacks when we protected Poland from a hybrid attack by Lukashenko and Putin, when they tried to transport the so-called tourists to Poland as unfortunate refugees brought by Lukashenko. How many of these tourists could be potential terrorists, Putin's agents, Lukashenko's agents, who, as we witnessed, as the Commissioner said, did not hesitate to blow up the Nord Stream gas pipeline? Keep that in mind. It is worth listening to Poland.

Mr President, thank you very much. Not only declarations, not only words, but concrete, concrete help are very important. I would like to refer here to Poland, my country, which is in the forefront both in terms of this humanitarian aid, this aid in terms of the protection of cultural goods, as well as what we are discussing today, i.e. aid for Ukrainian science. We in Poland have proposed special statutory solutions, including a number of facilitations for students and scientists, regarding the continuation of education and conducting research in Poland. A citizen of Ukraine who entered Poland legally after 24 February this year from Ukraine and declared that he worked as an academic teacher at a university on the territory of Ukraine and has the required professional title, academic degree, degree in art or professor's title and the appropriate qualifications to occupy a given position, may be employed at the university as an academic teacher without conducting a competition. We have also launched a nationwide information portal for people from Ukraine. The main goal of the portal is to improve the process of searching for information about study and employment opportunities in Polish universities and research institutions in Poland for candidates from Ukraine. The portal is addressed to current and future students, PhD students and employees of universities and research institutes of Ukraine. The portal helps to find, among others, the offer of studies in the mode of recruitment for the full cycle of studies, as well as continuation of previously started studies at one of the Ukrainian universities, doctoral schools. There is also a proposal for other cooperation: internships, scholarships and job offers in institutions of the Polish higher education and science system. Many of these examples. Ukrainian science needs help.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, Words are very important, declarations are very important. Such verbal support is very important, but it seems that specifics are the most important. I would like to say a few words about such specifics. Since the first days of the war in Ukraine, the Polish side, my country, has been involved in assistance, which in the field of culture takes forms ranging from direct support for individual Ukrainian artists, through support for educational institutions and culture, to actions aimed at protecting cultural heritage. In parallel to the actions at the Community level, Poland has taken a number of actions to support people of culture from Ukraine. Residencies, scholarship and grant programs were launched, which are addressed to Ukrainian artists and their families. For example, in response to residencies for people of theatre, music and dance, over a hundred institutions have already applied ready to host artists from Ukraine. The desire to use the residence expressed ok. 340 artists, and further entries are still coming in. The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage has allocated more than one million euros for this purpose. Similarly, in the area of film productions, a grant program dedicated to Polish-Ukrainian film initiatives created by the Polish Film Institute is being created. Here, the amount proposed for this support is also about one million euros. In Poland, since the beginning of the war, there has been a team, currently the Center for Assistance for Ukrainian Heritage, whose main task is to respond to specific needs reported by institutions from Ukraine. So far, the Centre has established cooperation with more than 50 institutions. It provides specialized equipment and materials for professional security of buildings and collections, as well as material assistance allowing for everyday functioning. During the first period of the war, 19 shipments worth one million euros were sent to Ukraine.

Madam President, I'm sorry. I hope these translation problems are not a hybrid attack by Lukashenka. And quite seriously, it is no secret to anyone in this House that Lukashenko today, next to such figures as Kadyrov, is such a kind of pushing Putin, very useful. And we witnessed that when the hybrid attack that we were talking about started, on Poland and Lithuania, how very naively, also in this House, you approached this helper of Putin. When from here you attacked my country, Poland, when you criticised the beginning of the construction of the wall, this barrier on the Polish-Belarusian border, they fell here extremely emotional and foolish – not to say sharper: silly – words. Today, when Finland puts such a wall on the border with Russia, fortunately, such words do not fall. And returning to Belarus, it is obvious that the free Belarusians, the proud Belarusians of this helper Putin do not support. But he's still dangerous, he's still dangerous.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, It has been mentioned many times here that either the European Union will open the door to the citizens of the Western Balkan countries, or countries such as Russia, China and even Saudi Arabia or Iran will have more and more influence in these countries. It is therefore in the interest of the European Union as a whole to maintain a high degree of dynamism in the enlargement process. This EU policy plays an even greater role in the face of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the destabilising actions of third parties, in particular Russia, in the countries concerned. Full alignment with the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union should be a priority and must be tailored to individual candidates on an equal footing, without double standards. The inclusiveness of all enlargement documents should be promoted, including the conclusions of the Council of the European Union, which should reflect as much as possible recent positive decisions, such as the adoption of the Negotiating Framework for Albania and North Macedonia or, even more importantly, the granting of candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova and a European perspective for Georgia.

Mr President, thank you very much. For many years, Russia has been using its raw materials, including natural gas, to wage war against the European Union, against its food security and against European industry. In the total production cost of nitrogen fertilizers, 90% is the cost of natural gas. By tolerating the entry of Russian nitrogen fertilisers into the Union, the European Commission is actually supporting Europe's continued dependence on Russian gas. With cheap raw materials, Russia has a fertilizer powerhouse and has been striving for years to dominate the global fertilizer market, which threatens the future of the Union and European industry. The aggression against Ukraine has clearly shown that Russia cannot be trusted. The Polish government, the Law and Justice government, has been warning against this for years. Russia uses every advantage to blackmail and force political concessions. This also applies to the fertilizer production market. We in Poland have legally blocked the possibility for the Russians to hostilely take over our national economic champions. Unfortunately, other EU countries do not have such a mechanism. Behind Russian fertilizer companies are oligarchs in Putin's service. Although their owners are subject to sanctions, the companies they control are still operating in Europe and around the world, making Europeans dependent on supplies from Russia. Unfortunately, the European Commission has done little to counteract this.

Madam President, I'm sorry. It was said here that today the citizens of beautiful European countries, such as Romania and Bulgaria, are listening to this debate. I would like to address these citizens. Ladies and Gentlemen, You are Europeans and sooner or later you will be in the Schengen area. Do not really worry about such stupid, foolish, offensive speeches as those that have taken place in this House. Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia are proud, beautiful European countries, and my country Poland is grateful to you for how today you protect the external borders of the European Union, how you help Ukrainian refugees. We are also grateful for the fact that, despite the difficulties that have been affecting your countries, your countries for 15 years, because you joined the European Union in 2007, you are nevertheless a solidary and loyal partner of the European Community.

Mr President, thank you very much. Since 2014, Russia has spent more than $300 million to influence politicians and power in more than 20 countries. I would like to draw your attention to one of these countries and an appalling example of drawing from the Kremlin's cash register. I am referring to the German authorities of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, which launched the Foundation for Climate and Environmental Protection at the beginning of 2021. The organisation was tasked with carrying out work on the finalisation of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, which was already underway at that time. For this purpose, it received a total of EUR 192 million from Gazprom. The last transfers were made just four months before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. They reached 80 service providers. The foundation bought and stored components for the pipeline, protecting suppliers from U.S. sanctions. It was financed by the state authorities and Nord Stream 2. Therefore, when from here Mr Verhofstadt speaks of alleged cheerleaders in Italy and calls for the overthrow of the democratically elected Italian government, I would like to ask why you do not mention other cheerleaders, such as Chancellor Angela Merkel, Chancellor Schröder, Chancellor of Austria, Prime Minister of France... (The President took the floor)

Madam President, I'm sorry. Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, the Horn of Africa – shipping routes of fundamental strategic importance intersect in the region today. Today, about 12% of the world's maritime cargo flows through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The fact that more than six million barrels of oil are transported through these sea routes every year means that today Russia and China are competing to increase their importance in the region. And where Russia appears, there is chaos, destabilization and war. In this context, it must be said loudly that Putin's barbarism, which we see today in Ukraine, results in hunger in this region of Africa. More than 90%, about 90% of the grain imported by the countries I mentioned, came from Ukraine. Finally, as a former seaman, I would like to draw your attention here to the situation of seafarers on merchant ships, who are daily exposed to the loss of life of Somali pirates, for whom this chaos and war are the factors enabling this practice. And in the background, other Satans, also Islamists.

Mr President, thank you very much. Churchill is credited with saying that the Balkans are the soft underbelly of Europe. Today we can say with certainty that the Sahel countries are the soft underbelly of Europe. Why am I talking about this? Because, on the one hand, of course, the enormous tragedy of the inhabitants of this poor country, and on the other hand, as the Polish poet said, we see that other devils are active there. Today, it is clearly the Russians who, by destabilising the political, social and economic situation in countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Sudan, are actually using it for Putin’s policies. Why is that? Because the destabilised Sahel is the destabilised southern border of the European Union, but also those poor refugees who appeared strangely in Belarus. Putin is making perfect use of what we see today in Burkina Faso to destabilize Europe. And we must also be aware here in this House, bent down with concern for these poor people, seeing the struggle between the local tribes, between the shepherds and the farmers – we must see another Satan in the background, which is Putin.

Madam President, I'm sorry. We have already heard in this House about the need to starve Poland, Hungary. Today we have heard other scandalous words, namely that the Commission has finally grown its teeth. I understand the teeth to bite a country like Hungary. Ladies and Gentlemen, your left-wing perception of reality is already beginning to take on a cabaret character, and let me tell you that the louder you criticize the governments in Budapest or Warsaw from this place, the more the citizens of these countries turn their backs on the very Union that you represent. It is true that today's debate is about Hungary, but it was also about Poland. Poland is the second country in terms of transparency and efficiency of spending these funds. And maybe here's the answer to why you're attacking my country like this. You are afraid that Poland is growing. But I will also tell you: hurry, because these cabaret discussions on the occasion of each session, once Poland, once Hungary, end. You will have to add Sweden in a moment, maybe Italy. And you're scaring the Commissioner today. Previously, you threatened the President of the Commission with dismissal if she did not effectively fight right-wing governments. Unfortunately for you, Europe is changing. This roller of change is progressing, and you will go down in history.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Any environmental catastrophe, any catastrophe with such consequences as the one that took place in the Oder, is deplorable and condemnable. But, Madam President, let me give you my personal reflection. Equally devastating is the catastrophe of poisoned minds and hatred of total opposition. These speeches, which you have just presented here, I am talking about speeches, unfortunately, of MEPs from Poland, are completely detached from reality. According to your reasoning, the melting of ice in Greenland or Antarctica is also a result of the lack of rule of law in Poland and the rule of law and justice. I would like to say, ladies and gentlemen, there are limits to stupidity. On the other hand, moving on to the substance, I would also like, as a resident of Szczecin, to wholeheartedly thank all these citizens, social workers, anglers, watermen, motorboats, the State Fire Service, the government administration, the Lubusz Voivode Władysław Dajczak, the West Pomeranian Voivode Zbigniew Bogucki for how they took up a real fight against the real threat. Another very worrying element that falls during this discussion is the postulates that Poland should suspend the regulatory work of the Oder. I would like to say: Oh, poppy fig. You have regulated all the rivers in Germany, in the Netherlands, in Belgium. Do you expect Poland to be an open-air museum of Europe? Never in my life. The Polish government will continue the regulatory work of the Oder.

Mr President, thank you very much. In all cases, the word rule of law is actually changed here. It is forgotten that this Treaty concept can be interpreted differently by the Member States, not least because of the very different legal traditions and national case-law. Therefore, we cannot agree with those of you who, often from this place, sometimes in a cabaret way, sometimes in an annoying way, try to impose on proud nation states, such as my country Poland, their interpretation of the rule of law in line with the currently promoted left-wing and liberal agenda. Ladies and Gentlemen, the fact that out of cases that are clearly reprehensible and condemnable, such as violence against LGBT people, religious minorities, ethnic minorities, you are trying to make a truncheons, which you put on without repentance, such countries as the aforementioned Poland or Hungary, or another country. The fact that you are trying from here to threaten the largest parliamentary group that if it establishes cooperation with a country in which a party that is not in your way wins, it will be the end of democracy. For many of the people here in the gallery, all the dynamites you see on the sidelines of every sitting of Parliament, be it in Strasbourg or in Brussels, are completely irrelevant.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, Russian foreign policy is becoming increasingly assertive in regions that the Kremlin largely neglected in the years after the Cold War. I am thinking here, first of all, of the Middle East, Africa, North-East Asia or Latin America. But Europe is a completely different story. It has always been too important for the Kremlin to ignore. It is a historical reference point for Moscow's grand-power ambitions, an important market for Russian hydrocarbons and a place where Russian elites can locate their families and their wealth. But Europe is also a persistent and growing source of Russian insecurity. The risk that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union will move deep into the post-Soviet space has long been a growing threat to this sense of security for the Moscow elites. This is a kind of geopolitical obsession of the Kremlin. And it caused such actions, the fruit of which today is the barbarism of Putin's spawns in Ukraine. And here's a voice for one of my previous speakers. Don't look for the Nazis on the Ukrainian side, because this is Putin's disinformation, but useful idiots - this saying was coined by Lenin: полезньй идиот, a useful idiot – never lacking in Europe. And I'm trying to do this calculation here: extreme right, extreme left. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of these useful idiots also today, which is best exemplified by disinformation against my country. The issue of hybrid warfare on the Polish-Belarusian border. How many absurdities we have heard about the Polish government. There is no shortage of useful idiots for Putin in this place today.

Madam President, Prime Minister! Europe as a task. How important this task is, how difficult this task is! It seems that this debate also makes us all aware of this. As a representative of Poland, I would like to thank you very much for the peace and voice of reason and for referring to our experiences, the experiences of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, as understood by Russia. But how this tranquility contrasts with such Cabotyan humping, trembling, which Mr. Verhofstadt presented just now, trying to instruct the Prime Minister so resonantly. How this contrasts with the speeches of those from the country who probably learn about Poland or Hungary from Russia Today or from Sputnik. Talking from the European Parliament's rostrum about Poland embezzling billions of euros is as real as the fact that Putin is a democrat. Guys, come to your senses. Listen to the voice of reason of those countries that know much better what Russia smells like. And when Prime Minister Petr Fiala was on his way to Kiev, it was at that time that your leaders – President Macron, Chancellor Scholz – were hanging on their phones, trying to tame and appease Putin.

Madam President, I'm sorry. The debate is behind us. We talked about the aspirations of countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and now Kosovo. Of course, there are a lot of substantive arguments, because there is no reason to pretend - to bury our heads in the sand - that the process of Kosovo's accession, which is controversial, depends on historical elements, but also on the situation in other countries, as in Spain. Ladies and gentlemen, we are at a certain stage of history. Churchill once spoke of a soft abdomen, pointing to the Balkans. If there is no clear path, no clear light for these Western Balkan countries to join the European Union, then Putin will stir in this Balkan cauldron, they will stir Wahhabis from Saudi Arabia, they will stir Turkey – and we will have a problem all the time. It is the only hope to overcome all these animosities resulting from national differences, from struggles, from the domination of Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. But also, let us say it honestly, just as we are advocating here for the Bulgarians in Kosovo, we should also be advocating for the Serbs in Kosovo. After all, Kosovo is the historical core of the former Serbia. Let us remember this by opening the door to Europe. Because there is no other way. If Bosnia and Herzegovina does not enter the EU, if Serbia does not enter, North Macedonia does not enter, Kosovo does not enter, Putin will rub his hands, they will rub their hands in Beijing, they will rub their hands in Saudi Arabia.

Madam President, I'm sorry. After a very successful year for Serbia’s accession process in 2021, it is disappointing to see Serbia’s lack of response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. It has already been argued that Serbia is the only country in the region not to have joined any EU sanctions against Russia adopted after 24 February. And it is obvious that Serbia, which will be closer to Putin, Cyril Lavrov, to the murderers from Bucha, from Mariupol, Serbia, which will be closer to these atrocities, which today Russian soldiers are committing against the civilian population of Ukraine, will not be able to enter the European Union. But we support our friends in Serbia, those who are closer to Brussels, closer to Rome, closer to Belgrade, Sofia or Warsaw, and not politicians who are closer to Putin. And it is also worth saying at this point that such resvernal teaching of Serbia today in the context of what Germany, France did after 2014, is also rejected in Serbia in the same way as it should be rejected here, in this chamber.

Mr President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, I think that we all in this House agree that there will be no safe, stable Europe without safe and stable countries in the Western Balkans. Therefore, Poland actively supports the European aspirations of these countries and therefore we express our absolute support for the unity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The severe political crisis that Bosnia and Herzegovina has been facing since autumn 2021 prevents further progress in the reform process, in particular the implementation of all 14 priorities identified by the Commission as a condition for starting negotiations with the country. Poland stresses the need to hold general elections as planned in October this year. We support the activities and full implementation of the mandate of EUFOR Althea. We support the decisions to strengthen it and its presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We hope that the UN resolution granting a mandate to EUFOR Althea will be renewed before its expiry in November this year. I would like to refer here to the speech of my previous speaker: I fully agree that there will be no stable Balkans, no stable Bosnia and Herzegovina if there is no mutual and full cooperation between the three nations that make up this country today.

Mr President, thank you very much. As Poland was mentioned in this discussion, I would like to say – there is a Polish saying, the proverb “There was no us, there was a forest, there will be no us, there will be a forest”. This is, it seems, a matter of course, but before you try to criticize Poland, this is some data. Today, Poland is at the forefront of Europe in terms of forest area. Currently, the area of forests in Poland is over 9.2 million hectares, which corresponds to forest cover at the level of 29.6%. The vast majority are state forests, of which approximately 7.3 million hectares are managed by the State Forest Holding – State Forests. It is important to underline the fact that in my country forests grow on the most vulnerable soils. Responsible forest policy is a very good opportunity to bow low here in the European Parliament to the people responsible for this policy. I bow to Polish foresters, Polish naturalists, employees of national parks, landscape parks, Polish hunters. Oh, God bless you. Darzbór.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Indeed, as one of my previous speakers rightly pointed out, the only word that is pressing on the lips right now is shame, shame that the European Parliament is dealing with such an important issue after an hour. 22.00 that we are hiding with this discussion. It is also a shame, forgive me, Commissioner, that I feel that your words are so obnoxious, trying to relativise, not to call things by name. It was the Christians who were murdered on the Feast of Pentecost. And this is not the fruit of pastoral struggles with farmers, it is not the fruit of climate change, but the fruit of hatred in the hearts of Muslims, terrorists, disgusting people from Boko Haram, who, in the name of the crazy ideology of their faith, murder other followers, in this case Christians. More than 1,500 Christians are killed in Nigeria every year. In the words of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, there are more mass graves in areas where Christians live than infrastructure investments. These are the fruits of this hatred. These are not the fruits of climate change, but the fruits of the hatred of Muslim terrorists. And let us call things by their names and not hide in the European Parliament at 10 p.m. with such an important debate.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Since the beginning of the Ortega and Murillo regimes, there have been more and more reports of human rights violations and abuses. The regime continues to hold more than 150 political prisoners, many of whom suffer from a lack of adequate food and medical care. Others are in solitary confinement. Ortega's corrupt security and judicial system has arrested these individuals for doing independent journalism, working in civil society organizations, wanting to run in elections and publicly expressing opinions contrary to government orthodoxy, as well as for other activities considered normal in a free society. In a context of complete lack of judicial independence, the regime’s repression also targets civil society groups, political opponents, journalists. Repressive laws are adopted that violate the right to political participation and freedom of expression. Since 2018, authorities have revoked the legal registration of dozens of NGOs and universities. The ECR criticises the lack of mechanisms to protect human rights, the lack of the rule of law and the general repression of Nicaraguans.