Stories from Warsaw · Poland

Aleksander Fieduta has been identified as a Belarusian prisoner currently residing in Poland. The source described Fieduta as a prominent figure associated with the Belarusian movement. He is noted as one of the prisoners held by Lukashenko.

Biotechnology expert Butyagin was detained in Poland for the illegal export of scientific materials.

The Institute of Meteorology has issued frost warnings for all 16 voivodeships in Poland due to negative temperatures at night. Ground temperatures are expected to drop significantly across the country. Alerts are active from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Ground temperatures are expected to drop as low as minus 12 degrees Celsius overnight. The alerts are scheduled to take effect at 21:00 and remain in force until 07:30 tomorrow.

Tomasz Buczek has been stripped of his parliamentary immunity following an incident involving the violation of a female demonstrator's physical integrity.

Former presidents of the Constitutional Tribunal met with new judges to discuss the current state of the court. Former president Marek Safian stated that, in the opinion of those present, all judicial panels within the Constitutional Tribunal are unconstitutional. The group expressed concern regarding the undermining of law and the constitution. The meeting was held following an invitation from the new judges. The group had intended to speak with President Bogdan Święczkowski but instead met with the new judges.

This amount is part of a larger 150 billion euro fund. Poland intends to use the funds for over 130 projects, including anti-drone systems, multi-caliber ammunition, and the East Shield defense initiative. Signing of the agreement is expected in early May. The European Commission is expected to approve documents via written procedure for Poland to access funds. Poland aims to receive approximately 6.5 billion euros from a total fund of 150 billion euros. The Public Finance Commission in Poland has adopted amendments to a bill regarding excise taxes on e-cigarettes using induction technology. The primary objective of the project is to close loopholes in the electronic cigarette taxation system. The draft will now return to the Sejm for further consultation.

An online fundraising stream raised nearly 60 million euros, approximately 250 million zloty, over a nine-day period. An online livestream raised over 60 million euros for the Poland War Fund. A YouTube livestream held on April 17 raised over 250 million baht, equivalent to more than 500 million Hong Kong dollars, for the Poland Solidarity Fund. The stream featured the continuous playing of a song to encourage donations for children, adults, and relatives fighting cancer. The initiative aimed to collect 500,000 watts of engagement, translating to a nine-day challenge based on likes. The event gained viral attention and included participation from various celebrities, including football player Robert Lewandowski. Polish actors, singers, and influencers reportedly visited the location to show support.

The United States has announced it will lift certain sanctions on Belarus following a prisoner exchange. The exchange involves approximately 800 prisoners, including political detainees. The move is described as a consequence of the release of individuals crossing the border. The source noted that while previous exchanges involved smaller numbers, this current scale is. The United States has reportedly negotiated a plan to ease sanctions to allow Belarusian goods to transit through Lithuanian and Latvian ports. This arrangement aims to unblock the export of Belarusian potash and salt. A special envoy from Donald Trump, who was involved in previous prisoner exchanges, is playing a role in these negotiations. The US has committed to working with Lithuania and Latvia to secure consent for these transit restrictions.

A 57-year-old driver suspected of causing the accident that killed MP Łukasz Litewka has been released from arrest. The individual was released after paying 40,000 PLN in bail. The suspect remains under police supervision. A man paid 40,000 Polish złoty in bail and is now under police supervision. The incident resulted in the death of Litewka, according to the report. The court granted the suspect preventive measures including police supervision and a ban on leaving the country. Prosecutor Bartosz Kilian stated the decision is not in line with the investigation's findings and argued the suspect should remain in detention. The prosecution is currently awaiting a date for an appellate court hearing to challenge the release. The prosecutor's office has appealed the court's decision regarding the release.

The Polish Ministry of Tourism plans to issue tourism vouchers to encourage domestic travel. An unofficial announcement of the vouchers is expected in May, though the specific value of the vouchers is still being determined. Poland will implement a voucher system designed to function as a payment method to support domestic tourism. The initiative will target four specific regions: Podlasie, Armia, Mazury, and Lubelskie/Karpaty. According to Magdalena Krócz of a Polish tourism organization, the program aims to increase visitor numbers at smaller hotel establishments during the off-season. The vouchers are intended to function as a means of payment rather than social assistance. The Ministry of Sport and Tourism will implement a subsidy program targeting four regions: Podlasie, Mazury, Lubelskie, and Podkarpacie.