Prime Minister Donald Tusk issued an order establishing a commission to investigate Russian and Belarusian influences from 2004 to 2024. The commission will be headed by the Chief of the Military Counterintelligence Service, General Jarosław Stróżyk. The Prime Minister also announced the restoration of regional structures of the Internal Security Agency. He noted that over 90% of individuals illegally crossing the Polish border possess Russian visas. He also provided information regarding sabotage and subversion within the country.
Commission on Russian and Belarusian Influences
Prime Minister Donald Tusk signed an order to establish a commission to investigate Russian and Belarusian influences. The experts on the commission will examine eastern influences on Poland’s internal security and interests, focusing on the years 2004-2024. At the request of the Minister of Justice, the Prime Minister appointed General Jarosław Stróżyk, Chief of the Military Counterintelligence Service, as the commission’s chair.
– “He has had a distinguished career as a diplomat, military commander, NATO intelligence deputy chief, and a scholar with a doctorate in security studies, making him highly competent. His task will be to coordinate the commission, which will ultimately consist of 9 to 13 members, as we will finalize next week,” said Donald Tusk at a press conference.
Members of the commission will be recommended by the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration, the Coordinator of Special Services, the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of National Defense, the Minister of State Assets, and the Minister of Digital Affairs.
– “I will be expecting experts from respective fields, as I am in constant dialogue with the ministers. The commission will operate discreetly. There will be no media presence during its proceedings, but we will regularly update on its progress,” explained the Prime Minister.
The first interim report from the commission is expected about two months into its operation, which will be shortly after the European Parliament elections.
– “I hope that the work of this commission will free public life in Poland from the unbearable burden of speculation, rumors, and numerous publications, TV programs, and books on this topic. Over the years, we have had an ocean of information about the alleged, real, or possibly false influence of Russian and Belarusian services on the actions of politicians or high-ranking officials. Therefore, we look forward to urgent and swift results from this commission,” said Donald Tusk.
The outcome of the commission’s work will likely include recommendations to the prosecutor’s office and opinions on why the investigation into Russian and Belarusian influences was neglected in previous years.
