Polish victims of Belarus-linked crimes remembered as murder probe stalls

Polish minority activist Andrzej Poczobut attended the 81st anniversary of the Augustow massacre (Obława) in Augustów and said that, according to his research, the route taken by the 1945 victims passed through the Belarusian village of Kalety. Historians agree the massacre, dubbed the “Little Katyn,” remains the largest unresolved crime against Poles after World II. Polish investigators from the Institute of National Remembrance continue to search for victims’ graves on the Belarusian side, but Belarus and Russia have refused cooperation, leaving the search inconclusive with only occasional human remains discovered.

Separately, the killing of Polish Sergeant Mateusz Sitka near the Belarus border more than two years ago remains unsolved. Critics note that Polish authorities have stalled the investigation, with no suspect identified despite claims of Belarusian involvement. Media scrutiny highlights the lack of progress by the prosecutor’s office and the broader difficulty of holding Belarus accountable for attacks on Polish personnel.