Maciej Wąsik made the appeal at a news conference on Thursday, the niezalezna.pl website reported.
He was asked about a ban on the carrying and transport of weapons that has been imposed for November 11, Poland’s Independence Day, in the capital Warsaw, the southern city of Kraków and the southwestern city of Wrocław.
'There are forces' that 'seek to destabilise Poland'
Wąsik said: “Experience shows that Independence Day celebrations excite emotions.”
He added: “In the three cities where the ban on the carrying and transport of weapons has been introduced, demonstrations will take place or there have been various disturbances in previous years.”
Wąsik told reporters: “Let’s remember that a war is taking place beyond our eastern border, so there may be provocations. In security matters, you always have to take the worst-case scenarios into account.”
He cautioned that “there are forces in the east that seek to destabilise Poland and other European countries.”
Putin seeks to 'create serious conflict' between Poles and Ukrainians
Asked about the possibility of incidents targeted at refugees from Ukraine, Wąsik said that “Russian President Vladimir Putin’s policy towards Poland is designed to create a serious conflict between the Polish and Ukrainian peoples.”
He added: “This has been the case for a long time. Today, our relations with Ukraine are very strong, and the help extended by Poland has been massive. Refugees have found shelter in Poland; children have found schools; women have found jobs. Vladimir Putin will likely be doing everything to change this state of affairs.”
'We predict that these kinds of provocations may happen'
Wąsik reiterated: “We predict that these kinds of provocations may happen. We call on the public not to participate in them, not to be provoked. We would like Independence Day to be safe.”
Poland regained independence on November 11, 1918, the day World War I ended, after 123 years of partition by Russia, Austria and Prussia.
One of the highlights of this year's festivities will be the opening of a new Mausoleum of the Polish Presidents-in-Exile.
Thursday is day 260 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: niezalezna.pl, dorzeczy.pl, se.pl