“The Russian empire has always – whether it was white or red, or now Putinist – posed a mortal threat to Poland,” said Mariusz Błaszczak (Law and Justice, PiS) at the Smolensk monument. Speaking about the inappropriate behavior of activists who, as every month, disrupt the commemorations, he added: “unfortunately – this is happening because the current authorities, the current government, allow it.”
Members of parliament from Law and Justice (PiS), as every month, appeared today at the Smolensk monument in Warsaw to pay tribute to the victims of the government plane crash, in which, among others, the late President of Poland Lech Kaczyński and 95 other people were killed. Unfortunately, just as traditionally, agitators also appeared, shouting various – often offensive – slogans during the prayers and the laying of flowers, and disrupting the course of the ceremonies.
This time, instead of Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of PiS, Mariusz Błaszczak spoke at Piłsudski Square.
“The truth always prevails”
“We remember that these people fell near Smolensk because Russia is once again ruled by people who are trying to rebuild the Russian empire. It was the same when the Russian empire was red. Then, in Katyn, the Russians committed an act of genocide, murdering Polish officers, the elite of the Polish nation. The Russian empire has always – whether it was white or red, or now Putinist – posed a mortal threat to Poland,” said the PiS politician. He also drew attention to the behavior of the patho-activists who disrupt the ceremonies.
“Unfortunately, our commemorations are, as every month, disrupted by people who, in our Christian culture, are called barbarians. These are people who align themselves with the propaganda of imperial Russia, Putinist propaganda. Unfortunately – this is happening because the current authorities, the current government, allow it,” he said.
“The Minister of Justice receives these people. Does he tell them that such behavior is inappropriate? Quite the opposite. He incites them. But – let us remain calm. The truth always prevails…” he added.