Poland

Government steps to undermine the independence of the Constitutional Tribunal prompted the European Commission to pursue action under a system designed to address rights-threatening measures by EU states. A draft law to impose an almost total abortion ban was withdrawn following mass protests. Following those protests and others against restrictions on media access to parliament, the government made legal changes to curb the right to spontaneous protest. Polish border guards routinely deny access to asylum at the Belarus-Poland border and summarily return asylum seekers to Belarus. Criminal investigations into a secret CIA detention program on Polish territory are stalled.