On July 10, 2017, Warsaw’s Krakowskie Przedmieście once again became the site of parallel gatherings marking the 87th monthly commemoration of the 2010 Smolensk air crash. The official ceremony, attended by government representatives and families of the victims, was accompanied by a counter-demonstration organized by the civic movement Obywatele RP (Citizens of Poland). Among those who joined the protest was former Solidarity activist Władysław Frasyniuk.
While government supporters marched toward the Presidential Palace carrying portraits of the crash victims and religious symbols, the counter-demonstrators gathered near Castle Square holding Polish flags, white roses, and banners defending democratic freedoms. They called for respect for the constitution and objected to what they saw as the political instrumentalization of the Smolensk tragedy.
Police cordons and metal barriers separated the two groups, preventing direct confrontation. The atmosphere remained tense but largely peaceful, with chants from both sides echoing through the street. After the official procession ended, many participants of the civic protest remained in the square, continuing their call for freedom of assembly and a more inclusive public space.
The 87th Smolensk commemoration illustrated how, seven years after the crash, the monthly gatherings had evolved into a symbolic battleground between state power and civil society, reflecting broader divisions in Polish political life.
