Binding to the visa programme
The committee of enquiry on the visa scandal asked the Minister of Justice for written information regarding foreigners accused of arson of the Marvil buying centre. This proposal was initiated on the basis of the speech of Mrs Alexandra Leo of the Polish Party2050.
The main nonsubjective is to find whether persons of Belarusian nationality or another foreigners against whom criminal proceedings are conducted in connection with activities in an organized criminal group suspected of sabotaging, including the arson of Maryvilska, resided in Poland, holding a visa under the Polish Business Harbour programme. The letter requested answer to the request within 7 days of receipt.
The fire, which broke out on Sunday May 12 at the Marivilska mall, caused crucial losses among over 1,400 shops and service points. Association of Vietnamese Entrepreneurs in Poland estimates the number of victims per 1000 people.
Like Silicon Valley
Today, the committee investigating the alleged visa scandal is questioning Jarosław Kaczyński, who in his erstwhile word served as Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the safety Committee.
The president of the committee, Michał Szczerba (KO), asked the witness a question about Poland.Business Harbour. The programme aimed at simplifying the visa procedure for companies, start-ups and IT professionals, eliminating the request for work permits. Initially, it was aimed mainly at the citizens of Belarus and later expanded to another countries. 1 part of the program was supervised by KPRM and GovTech. At the end of January this year, the program was suspended.
Kaczyński, erstwhile asked about the details of the program, indicated that an institution was to be established in the Minsk area, whose intent was to imitate Silicon Valley. He described it as a place where business initiatives were to be generated, especially in the field of the latest computer technologies. He besides pointed out that the issue was dealt with by then Minister Jadwiga Emilewicz.
Kaczyński besides stated that he did not receive any information from the then head of the Ministry of abroad Affairs, Mariusz Kamiński, or from the Ministry of abroad Affairs, Zbigniew Raua, who suggested that the operation, whose objectives seemed understandable from the position of Polish interests, led to incidents of a dangerous nature for the safety of the state. He stressed that defence matters, including the situation of the Polish army, were the main area of his interest as Deputy Prime Minister.
Kaczyński was just talking. He doesn't know anything
During the hearing, Szczerb recalled information provided by the ABW and the Intelligence Agency. They talked about the possible increased migration of Russian citizens to Poland and the related threats, both of an intelligence and of a terrorist nature, contained in a letter of February 2021. He besides asked the witness if he had received reports about it.
Kaczyński replied that he did not remember receiving specified reports, but admitted that memory may sometimes fail. The witness besides argued that he did not have information about the decision to extend the Polish programme.Business Harbour to Russian citizens in July 2021.
Szczerba besides questioned whether Waldemar Buda's ministers, Mariusz Kamiński, Zbigniew Rau and Justyna Orłowska informed the witness about problems related to the implementation of the program. The president of the committee pointed out that they received a study in June 2022 from the services, which indicated cases of deficiency of adequate papers confirming the professional qualifications of persons applying for a visa under the Polish Business Harbour programme. Kaczyński again replied that he does not callback specified information.
Toothless besides asked why after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, erstwhile sanctions were imposed against Russian citizens, the usage of the program for Russian citizens was not blocked. Kaczyński noted that these sanctions were targeted personally and afraid a comparatively tiny group of people.
I was not informed of any information that would indicate that in connection with Poland.Business Harbour was experiencing events of a dangerous nature for the safety of the state – Jarosław Kaczyński, during the Committee of Investigation on the Legalization of Aliens' Residence in the Polish Territory, was awarded today. Kaczyński added that he only talked to Mateusz Morawiecki about this program.
