Poland’s Presidential Office received a report from the Internal Security Agency (ABW) regarding Parliament Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty’s business and social ties to Russian citizens on March 19th.
Presidential Spokesperson Calls for Security Review
Presidential spokesperson Rafał Leśkiewicz announced that the ABW report on Speaker Czarzasty raises “further questions” rather than providing clarification regarding his connections.
Leśkiewicz urged Czarzasty to undergo a security clearance procedure, stating that the information provided would allow for a “reliable verification” by security services, moving beyond media reports.
He highlighted that Karol Nawrocki underwent the same procedure three times (2009, 2014, and 2021) to gain access to classified information, questioning why Czarzasty would not do the same.
Czarzasty Claims Report Contains No Incriminating Evidence
Włodzimierz Czarzasty stated in a TOK FM interview that he knows what the report potentially contains and believes it will show nothing damaging.
He explained that, according to the 2010 Act on the Protection of Classified Information, the President, Prime Minister, and parliamentary speakers are not required to complete the security questionnaire as they already have access.
Czarzasty added that he requested the security services to investigate him “in all aspects” and was informed that he has no contacts who pose a threat to Poland.
Allegations of Unfilled Security Questionnaire
PiS politicians and the Presidential Office accuse Czarzasty of not completing a security questionnaire when he served on the parliamentary committee for special services.
“Gazeta Polska” reported that had he completed the questionnaire, the services would have investigated his and his wife’s connections with a Russian art dealer linked to a Kremlin-controlled bank.
Czarzasty previously stated that investigations found nothing improper in his contacts.
National Security Council Discussion and Left’s Strategy
Reports indicate that during a February National Security Council meeting, Minister Tomasz Siemoniak discussed Czarzasty’s connections while Czarzasty himself remained silent.
Editor’s Note
The article was edited by Kamila Cieślik.
