The Supreme Audit Office of Poland has revealed 46 cases of malpractice in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that were tied to a cash-for-visas scandal that took place under the previous Law and Justice government.
The findings of the report were corroborated by current foreign minister Radosław Sikorski, who said they coincided with the internal audits of the new MFA leadership.
“We confirm that, unfortunately, particularly during the period from 2018 to 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs experienced a loss of control over the visa issuance system due to the introduction of so-called simplified procedures and priority pathways upon the requests of specific state-owned enterprises and intermediary agencies,” he said.
“We confirm that, regrettably, scandalous and illegal pressure tactics were placed on Polish consuls, which were meant to facilitate the issuance of visas to individuals who were not always eligible to obtain them, including citizens of the Russian Federation,” he added.
According to Sikorski, the ministry under his leadership is actively working to make the visa issuance system more secure and to contribute to the development of a comprehensive migration policy.
“First of all, we are cooperating in attempts to fully explain the visa scandal that has tarnished our reputation, particularly within the Schengen zone,” he said.
“Furthermore, we are sealing the visa issuance system, and lastly, we are enhancing and securing the visa application waiting process.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the audit as “devastating”.
“After [Russia’s] attack on Ukraine, almost two thousand Russians were given Polish visas, often in violation of the law and in defiance of sanctions. Where were you then, Mr. [President Andrzej] Duda, Mr. [PiS leader Jaroslaw] Kaczynski and Mr. [PiS's Prime Minister Mateusz] Morawiecki?!” he wrote on the X portal.
“We confirm that, unfortunately, particularly during the period from 2018 to 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs experienced a loss of control over the visa issuance system due to the introduction of so-called simplified procedures and priority pathways upon the requests of specific state-owned enterprises and intermediary agencies,” he said.
“We confirm that, regrettably, scandalous and illegal pressure tactics were placed on Polish consuls, which were meant to facilitate the issuance of visas to individuals who were not always eligible to obtain them, including citizens of the Russian Federation,” he added.
According to Sikorski, the ministry under his leadership is actively working to make the visa issuance system more secure and to contribute to the development of a comprehensive migration policy.
“First of all, we are cooperating in attempts to fully explain the visa scandal that has tarnished our reputation, particularly within the Schengen zone,” he said.
“Furthermore, we are sealing the visa issuance system, and lastly, we are enhancing and securing the visa application waiting process.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the audit as “devastating”.
“After [Russia’s] attack on Ukraine, almost two thousand Russians were given Polish visas, often in violation of the law and in defiance of sanctions. Where were you then, Mr. [President Andrzej] Duda, Mr. [PiS leader Jaroslaw] Kaczynski and Mr. [PiS's Prime Minister Mateusz] Morawiecki?!” he wrote on the X portal.
On Thursday, the chief of Poland’s Supreme Audit Office, Marian Banaś, presented the findings of a recent inspection of the foreign ministry. It was carried out by the Office to address longstanding accusations regarding the improper issuance of visas to foreigners during the tenure of the ministry's former leadership.
The audit covered the time between the beginning of 2018 until May 2024 and shed light on 46 irregularities in five different areas.
He said that the audit’s findings suggest “a system of influencing certain Polish consuls, that was non-transparent and fostered corruption, was in place [in the Ministry] at least from November 2022 to May 2023."
Irregularities were found in the procedure which aimed to speed up the processing of visa applications. For example, visas were issued “without requiring the applicant's physical presence,” he said.
Among the officials allegedly involved in the matter was former deputy foreign minister, Piotr Wawrzyk.
According to Banaś, Wawrzyk “frequently exceeded the authority exclusively assigned to the foreign minister” by "authorizing the issuance of mandatory directives regarding visas for particular individuals, which in numerous instances violated consular law,” he said.
The audit covered the time between the beginning of 2018 until May 2024 and shed light on 46 irregularities in five different areas.
He said that the audit’s findings suggest “a system of influencing certain Polish consuls, that was non-transparent and fostered corruption, was in place [in the Ministry] at least from November 2022 to May 2023."
Irregularities were found in the procedure which aimed to speed up the processing of visa applications. For example, visas were issued “without requiring the applicant's physical presence,” he said.
Among the officials allegedly involved in the matter was former deputy foreign minister, Piotr Wawrzyk.
According to Banaś, Wawrzyk “frequently exceeded the authority exclusively assigned to the foreign minister” by "authorizing the issuance of mandatory directives regarding visas for particular individuals, which in numerous instances violated consular law,” he said.
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