WARSAW, June 16 the creation of a commission to study «Russian influence» on the country's security.
On June 5, Polish President Andrzej Duda signed a law establishing a commission to study «Russia's influence» on Poland's internal security in 2007-2022. The law immediately faced sharp criticism, both within Poland and in the international arena. Duda later said in a televised address that he had prepared «a whole series of rules that, in this law, additionally regulate or change issues that raise doubts.» On June 8, the European Commission formally sent a letter to Poland on the launch of a legal procedure to resolve the violation in connection with the adoption of this regulatory act. According to the EC, this law violates the principles of democracy.
After that, the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, submitted amendments to the law to the Parliament.
According to the presidential amendments, the commissions for the study of «Russian influence» will not be able to sit parliamentarians, measures of influence on those who are convicted of acting «under Russian influence» have been canceled. In the previous version of the law, such people were subject to a ban on performing functions related to the management of public funds for up to ten years.
235 deputies voted for the amendments, five were against, nine parliamentarians abstained and 211 did not take part in the voting.
The Commission should examine, among other things, actions of officials such as the disclosure of information to third parties, the content of administrative decisions, the adoption of decisions, statements on behalf of public authorities or companies, the conclusion of contracts or the disposal of public funds.
The Polish opposition sharply opposes this law, believing that it simultaneously gives the commission the powers of special services, the prosecutor's office and the court. The opposition is also sure that the law is directed against it on the eve of the parliamentary elections to be held next autumn.
Relations between Russia and Poland have deteriorated significantly in recent years. Moscow accused Warsaw of frenzied Russophobia. The Polish authorities, despite the criticism and protest of the Russian Federation, are demolishing Soviet monuments and confiscating Russian property. In response to Warsaw's actions, Moscow added Poland to the list of unfriendly countries, and also expelled dozens of Polish diplomats and consular workers from the country, which was a response to the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Poland. The Kremlin, commenting on the hostile actions of Warsaw, said that Poland has periodically slipped into a frenzy of hatred for the Russians for centuries.
The Russian Federation has repeatedly rejected the accusations of the West of interference in elections and in the affairs of other states, calling them unfounded.