Poland’s National Prosecutor’s Office filed an indictment against former defence minister Antoni Macierewicz on 17 December, accusing him of leaking classified information about the Smolensk crash.
Macierewicz’s Statement
On Wednesday, in an interview with journalists, Macierewicz said the prosecutor’s complaint was perhaps aimed at the Military Counterintelligence Service, but he believes they acted to ensure Polish citizens received full knowledge of the Smolensk crime, which had been concealed. He added that those now accusing him seek to denounce Vladimir Putin’s responsibility while simultaneously defending him.
Case Background
On 17 December the National Prosecutor’s Office submitted an indictment to the court against Macierewicz. The former defence minister is charged with disclosing non‑public information regarding “top secret”, “secret”, “confidential”, and “reserved” clauses from April 2018 to May 2022. The alleged offences allegedly occurred while he served as chair of the Subcommittee to Re-examine the Smolensk Air Disaster—the so‑called “Smolensk subcommittee”.
Prosecutorial Accusations
The prosecution accuses Macierewicz of publicly revealing information about the circumstances of the Tu-154 aircraft crash in Smolensk on 10 April 2010. Allegations were presented to him in September; when questioned as a suspect, he denied having committed the alleged act and refused to give explanations. The National Prosecutor’s Office statement notes that the acts alleged against the former MON chief carry a potential prison sentence of up to five years.