Jarosław Kaczyński appeared on Piłsudski Square on Tuesday during another Smolensk monthly commemoration. Traditionally, there were scuffles, the pretext of which was a wreath with a plaque blaming Lech Kaczyński for the catastrophe. An activist known as Grandma Kasia was injured and taken to hospital.
On September 10, the month-long anniversary of the Smolensk disaster, Jarosław Kaczyński performed at Piłsudski Square in Warsaw, where the monuments to the Victims of the Smolensk Tragedy of 2010 and President Lech Kaczyński are located. Since morning, there had been scuffles between PiS politicians and a group of protesters. The police separated the parties with a cordon. Among the politicians, apart from Kaczyński, there was also the head of the PiS club Mariusz Błaszczak and MPs Zbigniew Bogucki and Anna Krupka.
Jarosław Kaczyński outraged by the wreath and the police
A wreath was laid in front of the monument with the inscription: “In memory of the 95 victims of Lech Kaczyński, who, ignoring all procedures, ordered the pilots to land in Smolensk in extremely difficult conditions. Rest in peace. Polish Nation.”
This fact was commented on by PiS chairman Jarosław Kaczyński. – It turns out that we, and me in particular, are allowed to be insulted. The police do not react to this, although they are obliged to react immediately. They refer us to institutions that we know will not react under any circumstances, because we have already checked this many times. I am talking about the courts – he said.
– The element that brings us here is that the wreath that this group is laying is an extremely drastic insult to my late brother, and on the other hand it is an obvious part of Putin's propaganda – he emphasized. – In my opinion, this is an ordinary agency that should be liquidated, imprisoned or extradited to Ukrainians by the appropriate services. This is also a good method, because they have other ways of acting, for example – said Kaczyński. He considered it a “giant scandal” that “this wreath can lie there”.
A brawl in front of the Smolensk monumentPAP/Marcin Obara
Scuffles in front of the monument. Grandma Kasia in hospital
The wreath is a monthly source of conflict between the groups. Footage has appeared on social media showing the fall of activist Katarzyna Augustynek, better known as Grandma Kasia. The woman is carrying the wreath along with several other people. Men in reflective vests are apparently trying to block them. After a moment, the police intervene. Grandma Kasia falls.
We asked the police about the case. – On Tuesday, we received a report about an elderly woman who was injured at Piłsudski Square. She was transported to the hospital – Jakub Pacyniak, spokesman for the city center police, told us. He added that at the hospital, the police received a report from the injured woman regarding “bodily harm.” – They will determine the circumstances of this incident – Pacyniak summed up.
On 10 April 2010, 96 people died in the Tu-154M plane crash near Smolensk, including President Lech Kaczyński and his wife Maria, the highest commanders of the Polish Army and the last President of Poland in exile, Ryszard Kaczorowski.
Main image source: TVN24