Restoring historical truth: Zelensky signs law on compensation for those deported from Poland

Ukrainians who were forcibly resettled from Poland in 1944–1951 and their descendants will be able to receive compensation from the state. Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law recognizing these deportations as illegal and criminal. Learn more about the document, which provides for the return of property, cash payments, land plots, and other forms of assistance

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed Law No. 4540-IX, which paves the way for historical justice for hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians deported in 1944–1951 from territories that were part of Poland.

The law officially recognizes the forced resettlement as a criminal act of the totalitarian regimes of the USSR and Poland and provides for monetary compensation and the return of property to the deported persons and their descendants.

Who will receive the status of a deportee?

The new law amends the existing law “On the restoration of rights of persons deported on ethnic grounds.” From now on, the following persons are officially recognized as deportees:

- citizens of Ukraine of Ukrainian ethnic origin who were forcibly resettled from Lemkivshchyna, Nadsyannya, Kholmshchyna, Pidlyashshya, Lyubachivshchyna, and Western Boikivshchyna in 1944–1951;

- their descendants, if there is documentary evidence of deportation.

According to the authors of the bill, this concerns about 700,000 people who were victims of forced resettlement as a result of agreements between the USSR and the Polish People's Republic.

The forced evacuation took place on the basis of agreements which, as later recognized by the Constitutional Tribunal of Poland and the European Court of Human Rights, had no legal force.

What assistance does the law provide?

1. Compensation for lost property

If residential buildings or other real estate have been preserved, they will be returned to their former owners or their heirs, if possible. If return is not possible, monetary compensation for the value of the property will be provided.

2. Conditions for receiving compensation

- Applications for compensation may be submitted within three years of obtaining the status of a deportee.

- Payments will be made in stages over a period of five years, with the first installment being at least 20% of the total amount.

- If the person dies after the decision is made, the payment goes to their heirs.

3. Right to a land share

For deportees living in rural areas, the state guarantees the free transfer of agricultural land to their ownership from the state reserve or reserve fund.

4. One-time cash assistance

The law introduces Article 7-1, which provides for one-time cash assistance to all those who have been forcibly resettled, as well as to their heirs in the event of the person's death after the relevant decision has been made. The amount and procedure for payment will be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers.

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Historical significance

Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga called the adoption of the law “a worthy step that restores historical justice for this horrific crime.” Ukraine recognizes these actions as illegal and criminal acts of totalitarian regimes and enshrines the restoration of the rights of deportees as a priority of state policy.

The deportations officially began on September 9, 1944, as a result of an agreement between the governments of the Ukrainian SSR and the Polish Committee of National Liberation. Based on this agreement and the 1951 treaty on the exchange of territories, more than 700,000 ethnic Ukrainians were forcibly resettled.

These actions were illegal according to the legal conclusions of the European Court of Human Rights and the Polish Constitutional Tribunal. A Polish law of 2005 recognized these events as “expulsion,” further confirming the fact of deportation.

The new law will enter into force six months after its official publication. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine must develop detailed procedures for the appointment and payment of assistance, as well as mechanisms for the return or compensation of property.

This decision opens the way not only for material compensation, but also for public recognition of one of the most silenced crimes against the Ukrainian people in the 20th century.

In such cases, it is recommended to seek professional advice from an immigration lawyer. You can use the services of specialists on the Visit Ukraine platform, where Ukrainians can receive individual support, explanations of documents, and assistance in obtaining status.

We remind you! New rules for residence cards have already come into force in Poland. The law narrows the list of grounds for obtaining a residence card and restricts the circle of foreigners who can apply for one. Read our previous article to find out who is affected by the changes and who retains the right to legalize their stay.

Photo: Unsplash

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