Poland’s president has demanded an explanation from the prime minister after a close associate of the country’s opposition leader died days after being questioned by prosecutors.
Barbara Skrzypek, a long-time aide to Jarosław Kaczyński, the head of Poland’s right-wing opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, passed away on Saturday.
Three days earlier, she had been questioned at the Warsaw District Prosecutor’s Office as a witness in an investigation concerning a company linked to Kaczyński.
PiS politicians, including Kaczyński himself, have claimed there’s a link between Skrzypek’s questioning and her death, suggesting that the procedure put her under stress.
However, prosecutors said the questioning was conducted in a “friendly atmosphere.” They added that neither Skrzypek nor her legal representative had raised any objections.
The preliminary results of an autopsy ordered by the National Prosecutor’s Office revealed on Tuesday that Skrzypek died of a massive heart attack.
Przemysław Nowak, spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office, said the autopsy was a standard procedure, as a physician had not been able to determine the cause of Skrzypek’s death at the time of her passing.
On Tuesday, Polish President Andrzej Duda, an ally of the Law and Justice party, said he had sent a letter to Prime Minister Donald Tusk requesting an explanation regarding the questioning of Skrzypek.
He added that the matter “raises doubts” and is “extremely appalling.”
Duda expressed hope that a thorough prosecutorial investigation would be conducted to clarify the circumstances of Skrzypek’s death.
Three days earlier, she had been questioned at the Warsaw District Prosecutor’s Office as a witness in an investigation concerning a company linked to Kaczyński.
PiS politicians, including Kaczyński himself, have claimed there’s a link between Skrzypek’s questioning and her death, suggesting that the procedure put her under stress.
However, prosecutors said the questioning was conducted in a “friendly atmosphere.” They added that neither Skrzypek nor her legal representative had raised any objections.
The preliminary results of an autopsy ordered by the National Prosecutor’s Office revealed on Tuesday that Skrzypek died of a massive heart attack.
Przemysław Nowak, spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office, said the autopsy was a standard procedure, as a physician had not been able to determine the cause of Skrzypek’s death at the time of her passing.
‘Extremely appalling’
On Tuesday, Polish President Andrzej Duda, an ally of the Law and Justice party, said he had sent a letter to Prime Minister Donald Tusk requesting an explanation regarding the questioning of Skrzypek.
He added that the matter “raises doubts” and is “extremely appalling.”
Duda expressed hope that a thorough prosecutorial investigation would be conducted to clarify the circumstances of Skrzypek’s death.
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