POLAND: Alleged government misconduct & more – 15th Aug 2024

Witam from BA! This is the Rorshok Poland Update from the 15th of August twenty twenty-four. A quick summary of what's going down in Poland.




Let's start off with internal affairs, on Saturday the 10th, Poland’s former ruling party, Law and Justice launched a new project to monitor alleged government misconduct. This initiative, which includes a website for anonymous reporting of rule-of-law breaches, responds to criticism that Law and Justice has been ineffective in holding the current government accountable.

The project was announced after Prime Minister Donald Tusk revealed $25 billion in suspected illegal state expenditures from Law and Justice’s tenure and noted that over sixty former Law and Justice officials have been charged. Tusk accused the former administration of misusing state funds for political and financial gain, including financing election campaigns and supporting allied media.

In response, Law and Justice politicians, including former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, have dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, accusing Tusk of targeting the largest opposition party. The Law and Justice government had previously faced criticism from opposition groups and the EU for undermining democratic norms and media freedoms.

On Tuesday the 13ᵗʰ, Donald Tusk nominated Piotr Serafin for the position of EU Commissioner. During a press conference, Tusk said that Serafin's candidacy would undergo evaluation by the parliamentary committee on European affairs. Tusk also said he intended to consult with President Andrzej Duda about the nomination later in the week, ideally before the 15th of August. He emphasized that Serafin's nomination had received unanimous and enthusiastic support from the Polish Council of Ministers.

The Prime Minister's Office communicated via social media that the next step will be to secure a positive assessment from the committee before officially proposing Serafin for the EU Commissioner role. This move reflects Poland's strategic effort to influence EU policies through Serafin's potential appointment.

Moving on to security, on Tuesday, the 13th, Poland signed a significant deal to acquire 96 AH-64E Apache helicopters from the U.S., marking a major step in modernizing its military. Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister, said the purchase is a crucial upgrade to Poland's defense capabilities and an enhancement to the country’s operational integration with Abrams tanks and F-35 fighters.

Mark Brzeziński, the U.S. Ambassador, emphasized that the deal, valued at approximately $10 billion, underscores the strong and trusted relationship between the U.S. and Poland. The helicopters will be stationed at bases in Inowrocław, Świdnik, and Malbork. The contract also includes over 1,800 Hellfire missiles and 460 JAGM missiles. While the Apaches will bolster Poland’s defense, experts note they will lack certain capabilities, such as unmanned aerial vehicle control, which are not provided to export buyers. This purchase replaces a previously planned acquisition of French Caracals that was canceled in twenty fifteen.

On the same topic, on Wednesday the 14th, Poland signed a contract for twenty-eight light armored reconnaissance vehicles, known as Kleszcz, worth approximately 206 million dollars.

The agreement was formalized at the Warsaw Armored Brigade and Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense announced the deal on social media later. The Kleszcz vehicles, developed by AMZ Kutno in collaboration with military institutes, represent a significant step in Poland’s military modernization efforts. Delivery is set to start in two years, and the new vehicles will replace outdated Soviet-era BRDM-2s in reconnaissance units of the Polish Land Forces. The contract stipulates that 50% of the funding must be spent domestically.

On the same day, according to the Polish military, Polish F-16 fighter jets intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance plane over the Baltic Sea. The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces reported that the Russian aircraft was conducting a reconnaissance mission in international airspace without breaching Polish territorial waters.

The incident highlights Poland’s commitment to airspace security amid ongoing tensions in Europe due to Russia’s war in Ukraine. NATO also noted that European air forces were scrambled over 300 times last year to intercept Russian military aircraft approaching Alliance airspace, primarily over the Baltic Sea. The conflict, now on its 903rd day, remains a significant security concern for the region.

Speaking of the military, on Wednesday the 14th, Warsaw will host a major military parade to mark Armed Forces Day, featuring around 80 aircraft, 220 military vehicles, and over 2,500 troops. Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Defense Minister, emphasized that this year's parade will highlight Poland's "strength, agency, and unity" amid ongoing threats from the East.

The event will showcase a range of military hardware, including South Korean K2 tanks, Polish Krab howitzers, US M1A1 Abrams tanks, and Black Hawk helicopters. The celebration, running from the 14th to the 17th of August, also includes military picnics and other activities, commemorating Poland’s nineteen twenty victory over the Russian Bolsheviks in the Battle of Warsaw, a pivotal moment in world history.

On other security updates, on Monday the 12ᵗʰ, Polish investigation of the fire at the Marywilska market halls in Warsaw, which destroyed a facility housing of approximately 1,400 stalls, now suspects intentional arson with possible Russian involvement.

The Mazowiecki Department for Organized Crime and Corruption, which has been leading the probe since late July, considers that the fire might have been orchestrated by Russian special services. Preliminary findings suggest that Russian-language Telegram channels offered between €10,000 and €15,000 to individuals for carrying out arson in major Polish cities.

The investigation will advance after the long weekend, with six investigative teams set to examine the site, starting on the 19th of August. The National Prosecutor’s Office has assured that the activities will focus on safe areas, while the Warsaw Police Headquarters will secure the site and inspect the remaining goods with victims and their legal representatives present.

On Monday the 12th, a shooting incident at a bar in the Wólka Kosowska Shopping Center near Warsaw caused a death. The shooting was reported around 3:20 PM and resulted in an injured man being rushed to a hospital in Nadarzyn, where he later died despite efforts to save him.

Authorities have linked this shooting to a body discovered in Nadarzyn shortly thereafter. Piotr Skiba from the Warsaw District Prosecutor's Office stated that details are still emerging, with an official statement expected on the 14th of August. The shooting has prompted an extensive emergency response, including the deployment of anti-terrorist units. The investigation is ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

In sports news, on Monday the 12th, Donald Tusk and Sławomir Nitras, the Minister of Sport and Tourism, hosted a reception at the Prime Minister’s Chancellery for Polish Olympians returning from the Paris Games.

The athletes, including gold medalist Aleksandra Mirosław in sport climbing and the silver medal-winning volleyball team, were greeted with accolades for their achievements. Tusk highlighted that Polish women significantly outperformed their male counterparts, winning eight medals compared to two. Overall, Poland earned 10 medals—one gold, four silver, and five bronze—placing 42nd in the global rankings. Tusk referred to the athletes as heroes, expressing national pride in their performance. Minister Nitras addressed concerns regarding shortages in coaching and equipment and requested details on sports officials who traveled to Paris at public expense.

Aaand that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

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