PiS politicians attended Warsaw’s Smolensk commemoration, where Macierewicz arrived early and Suski seized a protester’s sign.
Early Arrival and Commotion
On Tuesday, January 10, the monthly commemoration for the Smolensk crash victims took place at the monument in Warsaw. PiS politicians attended the event. Antoni Macierewicz arrived early in the morning, around 6 AM, to “guard the stairs” as described by activist Arkadiusz Szczurek, who noted that Macierewicz’s presence caused a commotion.
Sign Snatching Incident
As right-wing politicians were leaving the church and heading toward the monument, a protester appeared with a transparent sign reading: “The biggest liars, thieves, criminals, degenerates are not in prison, but in parliamentary halls.” Marek Suski approached the man and snatched the sign. Macierewicz assisted Suski, and the politicians were separated from the protester by police officers.
Błaszczak’s Speech and Condemnation
Instead of Jarosław Kaczyński, who was unable to attend due to health issues, PiS vice president Mariusz Błaszczak spoke at the event. He claimed that Russia always poses a deadly threat to Poland, regardless of whether it was a “red, white, or Putinist empire.” When protesters chanted “liar,” Błaszczak called them “barbarians” who fit into Putin’s propaganda, criticizing the Minister of Justice for not condemning such behavior.