An investigation is ongoing following the notification of possible diplomatic treason by the former Minister of Defense Antoni Macerjevic. According to the spokesman of the National Prosecutor's Office, Przemysław Novak, the “decision to start the investigation” will be made “within 30 days”.
General Yaroslav Strozik – the head of the Military Counter-Intelligence Service and the head of the commission investigating the influence of Russia and Belarus – during the presentation of the results of the commission's work on October 30, announced the submission of an application to the prosecutor's office regarding possible diplomatic treason. which was committed by the former head of the Ministry of National Defense, Antoni Macerevich.
This applies, among other things, to the fact that the ministry, which was headed by Macerevich at that time, from the program of acquiring air tankers. The program was called “Karkonosze”.
Spokesman PC: investigation is ongoing
On Friday, the spokesman of the National Prosecutor's Office, Prosecutor Przemysław Nowak, confirmed that the notification about the “Karkonosze” program was submitted by General Jarosław Stróżyk.
The spokesperson also informed that on Friday this notification was sent for procedural review to the Massiv branch of the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw. He explained that the National Prosecutor's Office is investigating the possibility of diplomatic treason by Macerevich.
– The prosecutor must make a decision on the initiation of the investigation within 30 days, – Novak added.
The representative of PKH clarified that this news refers to the decision of the then Minister of Defense Antoni Macerevich to purchase jet fuel aircraft from the international program known as “Karkonosze”.
Not receiving these planes, – Novak said, – would lead to a decrease in the capacity of the Polish armed forces and would have a negative impact on the country's strategic security.
READ MORE: Four key takeaways from report, including 'diplomatic betrayal'
Ministry of National Defense: this decision was made by Antoni Macerevich's personal desire
The information about sending the notification to the prosecutor's office in this case was confirmed by the head of the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General Adam Bodnar on Monday evening in TVP Info. The Minister noted that General Strožyk informed him that this report is complete, consists of 15 pages, and contains the evidence, as well as instructions on what specific evidence should be obtained.
A day later, on Tuesday, the Ministry of Justice published a statement that the motives of Antoni Macerewicz's decision are unclear, and according to the experts of the commission investigating the influence of Russia and Belarus, this decision “has serious consequences for the national security of Poland.” “
The ministry also added that the commission unanimously recommended that the materials collected in this case be transferred to the prosecutor's office for evaluation of the criminal law from the point of view of the possibility of committing a crime – treason. It's about art. Article 129 of the Criminal Code, which states: “Anyone who is authorized on behalf of Poland in dealings with the government of a foreign country or a foreign organization and acts to the detriment of the Republic of Poland shall be punished.” be deprived of liberty from one to 10 years.”
The Ministry of Justice also cited the words of General Strojic and added that Macerjevic's decision “was a surprise for the General Staff and the Ministry of National Defense and seems to have been caused by Antoni Macerjevic's personal reluctance towards partners from the European Union.”
“Karkonosze” program.
Multi-role tanker aircraft (MRTT) are vehicles that can be configured as flying tankers, freighters, passenger vehicles and even medical evacuation aircraft, depending on the need. They are built on the basis of popular passenger cars such as Airbus A330 or Boeing 767. Before 2015, Poland joined the Netherlands and Norway for the purchase of A330 MRTT aircraft (in later years, Germany, the Czech Republic, Belgium and Luxembourg also joined). During the period when Antoni Macerewicz was in charge of the ministry, Poland refused international cooperation in the purchase of these aircraft.
Macerevich himself denied the accusations in this regard and claims that it is “absolutely necessary” to abandon the “Karkonosze” program.
– Because of the price, the newness and the consequences of the fact that in this structure, not us, but our allies make decisions. We just wanted to use it in a complementary way. Absurd. It was my decision at that time and I believe it was absolutely correct, he explained at the press conference.
Main photo source: PAP/Leszek Szymanski
