Warsaw. Adam Bodnar with a “shameful diversion act” and investigation into the fire of the hall at Marywilska

The findings of investigators indicate that the fire hall fire at Marywilska Street in Warsaw was the result of arson on behalf of Russian services. – There were task groups probably managed by special services officers of the Russian Federation, which then carried out activities in Poland and Lithuania – says the perpetrators of justice and prosecutor general Adam Bodnar.

“We already know for sure that a great fire in Marywilska was the result of arson on behalf of the Russian services. The actions were coordinated by a person in Russia. Some perpetrators are already in custody, the rest were identified and is wanted.

“Shameful act of diversion”

The Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General Adam Bodnar talked about the details of the investigation in this case. He noted in an interview with journalists that it is “very advanced”. – Some of the activities in this investigation were carried out in Lithuania, some people are also stopped there. In relation to the part, arrest warrants and European arrest orders were issued – he said.

– The evidence gathered so far – not only some individual evidence, but a number of evidence – indicates that it was an organized, inspired and directed from the Russian Federation – emphasized the minister. He explained that so much information and evidence would have been gathered if it wasn't for the detention of Polish and Lithuanian services.

Referring to detainees and wanted in the case, the minister explained that they were groups of several. – It is difficult to say how many people on the side of the Russian Federation were involved in planning this action. These were such task groups probably managed by special services officers of the Russian Federation, which then carried out activities in Poland and Lithuania – described Bodnar.

“The Polish authorities will be consistently acting in favor of bringing everyone responsible, including people who guided this shameful act of sampling,” he announced.

He added that over 50 prosecutors, over a hundred policemen, as well as officers of the Internal Security Agency were involved in the investigation. – The very inspection of the Pogorzeliska area meant that it was possible to recover a lot of cash and valuables for the injured persons. It is also an important circumstance for victims of the case – he reminded.

Fire in a shopping center

Fires in Poland and Lithuania

The minister also talked about the investigation in an interview with the Radio Three. When asked about the perpetrators, he informed that they were people who have established cooperation with Russian services. – And of course their status is difficult to clearly determine, because the other performers were, who others were the people who documented, sent recordings confirming the fact that there was a fire and the commissioning person – he noted.

He also informed that a person associated with arson at Marywilska was also involved in a similar event in Vilnius – which indicates that he could be a closely cooperating person, not a random contractor. – It is important that the person who was associated with this arson on Marywilska was also associated with the act of arson when it comes to Vilnius, i.e. it looks like he was a more involved colleague – Bodnar said.

The Prosecutor General noted that on the one hand suspects are people who coordinated actions closely related to the special services of the Russian Federation, and to the other – these services themselves specialized in recruiting people through social media to perform specific tasks.

“On behalf of Russian special services”

On Sunday, the joint statement in this case was issued by the Minister of Justice, Prosecutor General Adam Bodnar and the Minister of the Interior and Administration, coordinator of special services Tomasz Siemoniak. They informed that since the year the Mazowieckie Department of Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor's Office with the support of the Warsaw Police Headquarters and the Internal Security Agency is conducting an intensive investigation explaining the circumstances of this event. “Polish services cooperate with the Lithuanian side, where some perpetrators carried out subversive activities,” they added.

The ministers stated that extraordinary funds were involved in the investigation: 55 prosecutors and 100 policemen, supported by experts and technicians, took part in the inspection in Pogorzeliska, lasting a total of 121 days, over 70 witnesses and 530 victims were interviewed.

“Currently, on the basis of the evidence we know, we know that the fire was the result of arson at the request of the Russian special services. We have deepened knowledge about the order and the course of arson and the manner of its documentation by the perpetrators. Their actions were organized and directed by a fixed person staying in the Russian Federation. Some perpetrators are already in custody, the remaining prosecutor's prosecutor The police and the Internal Security Agency continue investigating and operational activities aimed at taking them, “the ministers said.

Inspection of the Marywilska Shopping Center 44

About two thousand injured buyers

The outbreak of the fire of the Marywilska 44 shopping center in Warsaw occurred on May 12, 2024. The number of buyers injured as a result of a fire and their employees are estimated at about 2,000. people.

The investigation into the fire was initiated on May 13, 2024. The inspection of the Pogorzeliska began on July 30, 2024, after the building supervision decision enhanced the demolition of the burned hall. The investigation secured traces and objects that could have been related to the outbreak of fire.