President's spokesperson is down: BBN did not request access to the system

President Rafał Leśkiewicz stated on Friday that the National safety Bureau did not request access to the military records system, thus dementing the publication of Onetu. He added that the head of BBN Sławomir Cenckiewicz acts in accordance with his powers and has access to classified information.PAP

President's spokesperson Rafał Leśkiewicz categorically denied reports from Onet portal that the National safety Office under the direction of Sławomir Cenckiewicz demanded access to the strategy of registration of soldiers of the Polish Army. Leśkiewicz assured that BBN did not apply for access to SEW Online.

Onet portal claimed that the presidential office had never previously had access to this strategy and personnel files of all soldiers. According to reports, if the head of the NSA wanted to look into the officer's file, he turned to the MON Personnel Department and got it.

System explanations

"The military evidence system, SEW ONLINE, is 1 of the tools utilized in the armed forces in the field of organisation and personnel. A number of MON institutions have access to the system" - explained the President's spokesman. Leśkiewicz stressed that SEW ONLINE is not a database of personnel files, but another tool for another purposes.

Due to the confidentiality of SEW ONLINE, the spokesperson cannot mention to the detailed functionality of the system. However, he revealed that a fewer years ago the BBN considered the benefits of access to SEW ONLINE to safe and support the Authority, but at the time this task was not implemented.

Controversy around Certificate

Sławomir Cenckiewicz has a rough past with access to classified information. On July 31, 2024, the Military Counterintelligence Service took distant the safety clearance required for access to classified documents.

The Provincial Administrative Court in Warsaw repealed this decision on 17 June following Cenckiewicz's complaint. However, on 5 August, the Prime Minister's office lodged cassation complaints against this judgement to the ultimate Administrative Court.

Conflictual legal interpretations

"BBN chief Sławomir Cenckiewicz has access to classified information under the judgement of the WSA of 17.06. " - said Leśkiewicz. This contradicts the explanation of government representatives.

A spokesperson for the coordinator of peculiar services Jacek Dobrzyński stressed that "in accordance with Article 33(1) in conjunction with Article 33(7) of the Act on the protection of classified information, Mr Sławomir Cenckiewicz does not have access to classified information". This legal dispute remains unresolved.

Political affiliation charges

Onet wrote that Cenckiewicz, Gen. Dyw. Adam Rodzikowski and Brig. Gen. Andrzej Kowalski is considered to be people of erstwhile Minister of Defence Antoni Macierewicz. The speakers of the portal associated with the specials say that Gen. Kowalski "will look closely at what Gen. Jarosław Stróżyk is doing in peculiar (chief of SKW), who led to the withdrawal of the certificate of access to classified information to Sławomir Cenckiewicz".

Leśkiewicz denied any political affiliations of his deputies, identifying Gen. Kowalski and Gen. Dziękkowski as "perfect specialists in areas of his activity and responsibility". He pointed out that the talks on general promotions were conducted in a consistent atmosphere and were jointly agreed between the President, Head of the BBN and Minister of National Defence.

The portal besides claimed that the Head of BBN had made Thursday's promotions of officers designated by the Ministry of Defence conditional on the approval of the MON for general promotion for Gen. Rodzikowski. Leśkiewicz stressed that the head of the BBN and his deputies acted in accordance with their powers.

Sources used: "PAP", "Onet", "geta.pl" Note: This article has been edited with the aid of Artificial Intelligence.