Polish PM pushes back on claims over Sejm speaker’s "Eastern contacts"

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has clarified the reasons behind his early departure from a National Security Council meeting convened on February 11 by President Karol Nawrocki.

Polsat News cited the prime minister’s statement.

Tusk said he had informed the president beforehand that he would not participate in the discussion of the third item on the agenda, which concerned the “eastern contacts” of Sejm Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty. He stressed that the National Security Council is not a forum for examining politicians’ social ties.

“From President Nawrocki’s side, it was very imprudent to level serious accusations about someone’s associations in a particular social circle. President Nawrocki should be especially cautious when formulating accusations of this type,” Tusk said.

During Wednesday’s session of the National Security Council, participants reviewed the “eastern social and business contacts of Sejm Marshal Włodzimierz Czarzasty.” Nawrocki underlined the need to carefully verify “every piece of information that raises doubts” regarding individuals holding key offices.

The discussion followed reports in Polish media claiming that Czarzasty and his wife had maintained contacts with Russian national Svetlana Chestnykh, who works at an auction house linked to a Kremlin-controlled Russian bank. She also owns a stake in a hotel company where Czarzasty’s wife serves as vice president.

The Council meeting also took place amid a recent controversy involving Czarzasty, who declined to support the nomination of U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.

By Tamilla Hasanova