On Friday evening, the Sejm heard information from the head and deputy head of the Ministry of Defense on irregularities in the Smolensk subcommittee, Antoni Macierewicz, as well as information from the Minister of Justice on ongoing investigations into the Smolensk disaster. Macierewicz himself took part in the discussion.
On Friday evening, the Sejm heard information from the head of the Ministry of National Defense on the identified irregularities in the functioning of the Smolensk subcommittee, headed by Antoni Macierewicz, and information from the Minister of Justice and the Prosecutor General on investigations into the case Smolensk disaster.
Head of the Ministry of Defense, Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz he talked about the report published by the expert team appointed at the Ministry of National Defense to investigate the activities of the Smolensk subcommittee. The report resulted in the submission of 41 notifications to the prosecutor's office, including 24 against Macierewicz himself.
READ MORE: 790 pages, negative assessment “in all aspects”. 41 notifications to the prosecutor's office
The minister emphasized that the team examining the work of the subcommittee was composed of apolitical experts and focused only on the activities of the subcommittee, not the causes of the disaster. As he said, the team examined four areas: legality, expediency, reliability and economy of the subcommittee's work, and found irregularities in all of them.
Kosiniak-Kamysz: The team negatively assessed the operation of the Smolensk subcommittee in all aspects examinedTVN24
“She was not interested in explaining the reasons”
Kosiniak-Kamysz pointed out, among other things, that the provisions regarding the appointment of the commission, despite reservations, were adapted to Macierewicz's needs, which, among other things, involved the withdrawal of the powers of the State Aviation Accident Investigation Commission. Moreover – as he said – the commission did not have the authority to cancel the previous report on the causes of the disaster, the so-called Miller report. The head of the Ministry of National Defense conveyed “expressions of gratitude and apologies on behalf of the Republic of Poland for years of posturing” to the members of Jerzy Miller's commission.
He also emphasized that “for over six years, the subcommittee has not been able to formulate conclusions and recommendations to prevent such disasters from happening again.” He assessed that the subcommittee “was not interested in explaining the causes, because it had invented the cause in advance, the main task (was – editor) to prove the thesis about the explosion.”
Kosiniak-Kamysz, turning to PiS, said that he would expect an environment with such strong public support to “account for eight years of activity in this matter” and read the report.
Head of the Ministry of National Defense: unqualified people in the subcommittee
According to Kosiniak-Kamysz, the subcommittee operated chaotically, without any work plan. – People without the required qualifications were appointed to the subcommittee, which resulted in an incorrect assessment of the research material – he said.
He assessed that the purpose and effect of the subcommittee's work was also “to further build social division and divide the community.” He accused Macierewicz of acting and acting “in order to destroy the memory of the victims of the Smolensk disaster, destroy the national community, expose Poland to danger.” – This is a premeditated and fully prepared action – he said.
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz about the Smolensk subcommittee. The entire speechTVN24
– This is, unfortunately, so sad for each of our circles, because each of our circles is experienced, headed by Mr. President (Jarosław) Kaczyńskibecause his brother, the late President Professor, was killed Lech Kaczyński with his wife – he continued. He added that the last president in exile, Ryszard Kaczorowski, was also killed, as well as “his colleagues from the PSL, (…) the most important commanders of the Polish army.” As he said, “we were immersed in a war that someone started and kept lighting the fire.” – This is not allowed and this report is there to show what the truth is, to end this division – he said.
Tomczyk on “theft of evidence from the prosecutor's office”
Deputy head of the Ministry of National Defense Cezary Tomczyk he said, turning to PiS: – You used the state apparatus (…) to steal evidence from the prosecutor's office.
– There has never been such a case in the world where someone tried to confiscate evidence from the prosecutor's office using the state – the Military Police – but you rose to the challenge here – he continued, addressing his words to Macierewicz, who was sitting in the courtroom.
He informed that on July 18 and 19, 2016, with the assistance of the Military Police, the then chairman of the Smolensk subcommittee, Wacław Berczyński, “without the consent of the National Prosecutor's Office, confiscated evidence from the Air Force Institute of Technology – parts of a Tupolev that crashed near Smolensk.”
– This activity was performed on the basis of a written order of the Minister of National Defense Antoni Macierewicz of July 18, 2016 – Tomczyk said. He recalled that the then deputy prosecutor general, Marek Pasionek, demanded from the chairman “the immediate return of evidence illegally obtained by the subcommittee.”
– This case will also be fully settled – assured Tomczyk.
Tomczyk approached Macierewicz, who was sitting in the PiS parliamentary benches, and showed him one of the lettersTVN24
“On October 24, the Smolensk lie ended. With the publication of the report”
Tomczyk stated that “on October 24, the Smolensk lie ended.” – With the publication of the report, with the presentation of evidence that is as clear as day, where everyone can draw conclusions – he said.
He added that the 800-page report is “an indictment against Macierewicz and the people who worked with him.” Tomczyk also alleged that the Ministry of National Defense, under the leadership of Macierewicz, took actions to remove materials related to the Jerzy Miller commission, including reports prepared by it. As he said, one of the few copies remained in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister.
The deputy minister pointed out that “it was Jerzy Miller's commission that determined the causes of the disaster.” – And it was a collision with a tree, terrain obstacles and the ground. And this is the result of the work of the Polish commission, composed of Polish specialists, and not, as you said, the Russian commission. It was a Polish commission and a Polish investigation, Tomczyk said, referring to the allegations made by Macierewicz regarding alleged Russian influence on the work of the Miller commission.
He also accused PiS politicians of “turning a national catastrophe into a political stunt.”
Another notification to the prosecutor's office? Tomczyk doesn't rule it out
He also shared other information. – Antoni Macierewicz announced a few days ago that he also met with other Russians. I quote: 'I met with many Russians, including pilots.' I would like to say that we have a problem. I checked today and in this case you did not submit any report or information to the Military Counterintelligence Service and you did not report it to any services. (…) This is a matter that will require clarification in the coming weeks, but it seems to me that we will be dealing not with 41 notifications to the prosecutor's office, but 42 – said the deputy head of the Ministry of National Defense.
Bodnar: the explanation of the Smolensk disaster must be completed
Minister of Justice, Attorney General Adam Bodnar The Sejm provided information on the investigation into the disaster.
The investigation is currently being conducted by the Investigative Team No. 1 of the National Prosecutor's Office, headed by Prosecutor Krzysztof Schwartz. – Today we had a meeting of the National Council of Prosecutors, during which prosecutor Schwartz said that he wanted to end these proceedings with such decisions that they would defend themselves and close all open doors – Bodnar reported.
– We owe this to Polish society, we owe this to the victims and we owe this to the families of the victims to clarify the matter in a full and unambiguous manner – emphasized the Minister of Justice.
He added that it is also about ensuring that “people responsible for violating the law, including spreading lies, are held accountable.”
Bodnar also recalled that on Friday he established an investigative team at the National Prosecutor's Office to investigate irregularities in the functioning of the so-called Macierewicz's subcommittee. – It's downright sad that the prosecutor's office has to deal with this. I regret to say that after reading the report presented by Kosiniak-Kamysz and Tomczyk, the prosecutor's office will have to deal with various notifications contained in this report, Bodnar noted.
He added that “instead of dealing with the usual matters of prosecuting criminals, prosecutors will now have to analyze the numerous allegations of abuse of power, concealment of evidence and other circumstances described in this report.” – But I believe that this is a matter so important from the point of view of public interest and so important for clarifying this lie that was spread in the public debate, that I decided to establish a special investigative team – said Bodnar.
As he said, he hopes that the prosecutors appointed to this investigative team “through their commitment, expertise and professionalism will explain everything that happened and why the Smolensk subcommittee and its members allowed various situations of abuse of power.”
Bodnar also emphasized that, in addition to issues related to the activities of the Macierewicz subcommittee, “we should not lose sight of the need to complete a comprehensive legal and criminal explanation of the circumstances of the Tu-154 plane crash.”
– I look into your eyes Barbara Nowackawho for me is the person who represents all the victims' families. This is my personal responsibility to you, Barbara, he concluded. The mother of the Minister of Education, Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka, was one of the victims of the flight to Smolensk.
Bodnar: this is my personal responsibility, Barbara, towards you
Macierewicz: the subcommittee proved that we were dealing with an explosion
After the speech by the management of the Ministry of National Defense and the Minister of Justice, Macierewicz spoke on behalf of the PiS club. – The essence of the action of the Ministry of National Defense and the current authorities is the statement that by investigating Russian crimes I am committing hatred, that investigating Russian crimes is dividing the Polish nation – said the PiS politician.
Macierewicz also accused Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz of an “unbelievable lie.” – Unbelievable. Mr. Kosiniak-Kamysz says that the subcommittee did not reach any conclusion. That the subcommittee did not formulate any clear position. That the subcommittee proved nothing. The subcommittee proved and clearly stated that we were dealing with the blowing up of this plane – said Macierewicz.
Macierewicz also presented the members with a board with photos showing characteristically bent and twisted metal elements; on the second board he showed an illustration showing a Tu-154 plane with marked places where – according to him – explosions were to take place.
The deputy marshal turned off Macierewicz's microphoneTVN24
After the speaking time expired, Macierewicz still remained at the podium for a moment, presented the boards and spoke, even though the microphone was turned off. For this, he was reprimanded by the deputy speaker of the Sejm, Dorota Niedziela, who chaired the meeting.
PiS politicians rewarded Macierewicz's speech with applause. After it was over, the politician – and with him almost everyone present PiS MPs – they left the Sejm hall.
After some time, the PiS deputy chairman returned to the meeting, demanding a vote in the form of a correction. The deputy speaker said that he would have such an opportunity after completing a series of questions to which other parliamentarians had signed up.
Main photo source: sejm.gov.pl