Polish Sejm establishes investigative committee to investigate corruption "visa scandal"
Kyiv • UNN
The Polish Sejm has formed an 11-member commission to investigate the visa scandal related to the legalization of foreigners' stay in the period from 2019 to 2023. The scandal is related to the use of paid Polish work visas to enter the EU, and officials are suspected of abuse.
The Polish Sejm of the new convocation has set up a special committee to investigate the so-called visa scandal. This was reported by UNN with reference to the Sejm's office.
Details
On the evening of December 19, the Sejm approved by 259 votes a resolution to establish an 11-member investigative committee to investigate the so-called visa scandal.
79 deputies (PiS and Kukiz'15) voted against, one from the Confederation abstained, and more than a hundred deputies from the former ruling party Law and Justice ignored the vote.
The Investigative Committee is authorized to investigate the legality, systematic nature of cases of legalization of foreigners' stay in Poland in the period from November 12, 2019 to November 30, 2023 and related cases of abuse, negligence and omissions.
Addendum
Law and Justice unsuccessfully tried to submit an amendment that would have included in the commission's task to investigate the "dissemination of false information in the media" on this issue, which "could have influenced the results of the parliamentary elections and damaged the international reputation of the Republic of Poland." In addition, the MPs rejected an attempt to extend the timeframe of the investigation (from 2007).
Context
This refers to the detected cases of granting Polish allegedly labor visas at embassies in the Eastern countries for money, which was actually a scheme to enter the EU. In the fall, the Polish prosecutor's office notified seven current and former officials of suspicion .
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The "visa scandal" began in September 2023, when Polish media published an investigation into the dismissal of Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr Wawrzyk, who was responsible for consular and visa issues.
Recall
The Polish courtfound 14 people from Ukraine, Belarus and Russia guilty of espionage in favor of Russia, sentencing them to 6 years in prison and imposing fines. Two more cases will be considered separately.
