Prosecutors Charge Border Patrol Vigilantes

Prosecutors have indicted two members of the unofficial Border Defense Movement for impersonating public officials and assaulting a witness while conducting unauthorized border checks in the Słubice and Gubin districts.

Unauthorized Border Patrols

The District Prosecutor’s Office in Słubice has filed an indictment against 50-year-old Dariusz B. and 44-year-old Rafał M. The charges stem from incidents in June 2025, where the defendants, acting as members of the Border Defense Movement, performed duties legally reserved for state authorities.

On June 4, 2025, the pair stopped two foreign nationals at the border bridge in Słubice to demand identification and question them about their stay, leading the victims to believe they were dealing with actual Border Guard officers.

Assaults and Criminal Threats

Rafał M. faces additional charges for a June 7 incident in Gubin, where he interrogated another group of individuals. When a bystander began filming the encounter, Rafał M. reportedly turned aggressive, grabbing the witness, knocking their phone away, and causing minor injuries.

Days later, at the Żytowań border crossing, Rafał M. allegedly threatened the same witness with physical violence using threatening gestures and vulgar language. Both men are charged with the usurpation of public office, with additional counts of assault and criminal threats filed against M.

Provocations and Official Reaction

The Border Defense Movement previously drew scrutiny in mid-June when members attempted to place a cross at a temporary monument in Berlin, resulting in German police intervention. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz condemned the provocations, emphasizing that Poland’s borders are managed solely by professional military, police, and border services.