Warsaw shuts down commission on Russian, Belarusian influence after yearlong inquiry

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has signed a decree to disband the government commission tasked with investigating Russian and Belarusian influence on Poland’s internal security and interests from 2004 to 2024.

The commission, established at the end of May 2024, must be dissolved by September 30, according to the official order published in Poland’s government bulletin.

Formed by Tusk’s directive, the commission included 11 experts appointed by the prime minister and heads of key government departments related to national security. Over the past year, the commission, led by General Jarosław Strużyk, head of the Military Counterintelligence Service, produced three detailed reports on the issue.

Following the release of the first report in late October 2024, Poland’s prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into former Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz (who served from 2015 to 2018).

Macierewicz is suspected of “diplomatic treason,” with the commission accusing him of obstructing Poland’s participation in an international program to acquire refuelling aircraft. This action, the commission argued, weakened the Polish Armed Forces’ capabilities and posed a threat to the country’s strategic security.

Earlier, Tusk announced that 32 individuals had been detained in Poland on charges of collaborating with Russian intelligence services. He emphasised that Poland would take “ruthless” action against those undermining the nation’s stability.

By Tamilla Hasanova