Abstract

The Lemkos community in Poland is characterized on the base of its official status and political subjectivity. The attempt to identify the opportunities of minority’s influence on the ethnic policy of the Republic of Poland is made. The main legal acts that determine the rights of minorities in Poland is its Constitution and the Law on National and Ethnic Minorities and on Regional Language. The relevant law clearly defines the list of national and ethnic minorities in Poland, thus refers Lemko to the ethnic minorities. Lemko’s problem is an interesting field of the research for the scientists. Among the researchers of Lemko should be called A. Toronskij, I. Lyemkin, E Mihna, O. Duts­Phifer. The question of Lemko’s identity is contradictory, that’s why Lemko movement is heterogeneous, institutionally represented by such organizations as «Stovaryshennya of Lemko» end the «Union of Lemkos». «Stovaryshennya of Lemko» insists on isolation of the community, and the «Union of Lemko» insist on the unity of the Lemko community with Ukrainian people. This ambiguity on the issue of identification of Lemko observed among the scientists. The conclusion is made that the situation has affected by the process of political subjection of minorities, as well as the possibilities of its impact on the ethnopolitics of the state of residence. Lemkos observed relatively low levels of political activity can not perform the active political campaign to change their status because they have no influence own party or the other influential political institution, which would have represented the interests of Lemko.