Polish cash-for-visa scandal: Difference between revisions

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Extended confirmed users
24,605 edits
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit
Extended confirmed users
24,605 edits
No edit summary
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit Disambiguation links added
Line 7: Line 7:
Polish consulates are alleged to have received lists of names from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who were to be issued entry visas to Poland.<ref>{{Citation |title = "Filmowcy Wawrzyka" i wielka afera wizowa w MSZ. "Ośmiornica PiS" |trans-title= "Wawrzyk's filmmakers" and the great visagate in the MFA. "The long arms of PiS" |access-date = 14 September 2023 |publisher = [[Rzeczpospolita (newspaper)|Rzeczypospolita]] |url = https://www.rp.pl/kraj/art39110811-filmowcy-wawrzyka-i-wielka-afera-wizowa-w-msz-osmiornica-pis |language = pl}}</ref> Immigrants with visas issued in this way travelled first to Poland, then onto the United States and other countries of the [[global north]], posing as tourist groups or [[Bollywood]] film crews.<ref>{{Citation |title = Afera w MSZ, posłowie z kolejną kontrolą. "Rzeczpospolita": pośrednik ze znajomościami w resorcie usłyszał zarzuty |trans-title = Scandal at the MFA, MP's with another check. Rzeczpospolita: intermediary with connections in the resort has been charged |date = 11 September 2023 |access-date = 14 September 2023 |publisher = TVN24 |url = https://tvn24.pl/polska/wizy-odwolany-wiceminister-poslowie-ko-z-kolejnakontrola-w-resorcie-rzeczpospolita-posrednik-uslyszal-zarzuty-7337963 |language = pl}}</ref> People reportedly paid up to $45,000 for a visa and transfer to the United States.<ref name = "onetvisa"/>
Polish consulates are alleged to have received lists of names from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who were to be issued entry visas to Poland.<ref>{{Citation |title = "Filmowcy Wawrzyka" i wielka afera wizowa w MSZ. "Ośmiornica PiS" |trans-title= "Wawrzyk's filmmakers" and the great visagate in the MFA. "The long arms of PiS" |access-date = 14 September 2023 |publisher = [[Rzeczpospolita (newspaper)|Rzeczypospolita]] |url = https://www.rp.pl/kraj/art39110811-filmowcy-wawrzyka-i-wielka-afera-wizowa-w-msz-osmiornica-pis |language = pl}}</ref> Immigrants with visas issued in this way travelled first to Poland, then onto the United States and other countries of the [[global north]], posing as tourist groups or [[Bollywood]] film crews.<ref>{{Citation |title = Afera w MSZ, posłowie z kolejną kontrolą. "Rzeczpospolita": pośrednik ze znajomościami w resorcie usłyszał zarzuty |trans-title = Scandal at the MFA, MP's with another check. Rzeczpospolita: intermediary with connections in the resort has been charged |date = 11 September 2023 |access-date = 14 September 2023 |publisher = TVN24 |url = https://tvn24.pl/polska/wizy-odwolany-wiceminister-poslowie-ko-z-kolejnakontrola-w-resorcie-rzeczpospolita-posrednik-uslyszal-zarzuty-7337963 |language = pl}}</ref> People reportedly paid up to $45,000 for a visa and transfer to the United States.<ref name = "onetvisa"/>


Up to 250 000 visas may have been illegally issued since 2021 in return for bribes, in India, the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and elsewhere.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3234649/cash-visas-scandal-hits-polands-anti-migration-government-ahead-october-election|title='Cash-for visas' scandal hits Poland's anti-migration government ahead of October election|author=[[Associated Press|AP]]|publisher=[[South China Morning Post]]| date = 15 September 2023}}</ref>
Up to 250 000 visas may have been illegally issued since 2021 in return for bribes<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-16/cash-for-visa-scandal-hits-polish-ruling-party-before-election#xj4y7vzkg |author=Piotr Skolimowski|date=16 September 2023|title=Cash-For-Visa Scandal Hits Polish Ruling Party Before Election|publisher=[[Bloomberg]]}}</ref>, in [[India]]<ref name="visascmp"/>, [[The Philippines]],<ref name="visascmp"/> [[Singapore]]<ref name="visascmp"/>, [[Hong Kong]]<ref name="visascmp"/>, [[Republic of China|Taiwan]],<ref name="visascmp">{{citation|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3234649/cash-visas-scandal-hits-polands-anti-migration-government-ahead-october-election|title='Cash-for visas' scandal hits Poland's anti-migration government ahead of October election|author=[[Associated Press|AP]]|publisher=[[South China Morning Post]]| date = 15 September 2023}}</ref> [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]]<ref name="visapolsat">{{citation|url=https://www.polsatnews.pl/wiadomosc/2023-09-08/afera-wizowa-jest-komunikat-prokuratury-krajowej/|date = 15 September 2023|language=pl}}</ref> [[Qatar]]<ref name="visapolsat"/> and elsewhere.<ref name="visapolsat"/><ref name="visascmp"/>


== Arrests ==
== Arrests ==

Revision as of 08:28, 19 September 2023

Visagate is an ongoing political scandal in Poland concerning alleged corruption when granting visas by officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Polish consular service.[1][2]

Polish consulates are alleged to have received lists of names from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who were to be issued entry visas to Poland.

Bollywood film crews.[4] People reportedly paid up to $45,000 for a visa and transfer to the United States.[2]

Up to 250 000 visas may have been illegally issued since 2021 in return for bribes

Taiwan,[6] UAE[7] Qatar[7] and elsewhere.[7][6]

Arrests

Seven people were initially charged, with three being placed under temporary detention,[8] none of them were state officials.[9]

Consequences

The scandal is said to hurt the ruling

far-right, to votes for the Confederation.[13]

The scandal is also at odds with the ruling party's strong anti-immigrant rhetoric, frequently claiming that Poland will be overrun by illegal immigrats if the opposition comes to power.[14]

Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Piotr Wawrzyk, dismissed by Mateusz Morawiecki on 31 August, has been accused of playing a key role in the scheme, with his dismissal believed to be related to the scandal. Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau was also claimed by opposition members to have given his consent to the scheme.[15]

On 14 September, Piotr Wawrzyk was hospitalized in a life-threatening condition after what was believed to be a suicide attempt. He reportedly mentioned the scandal in a suicide note, claiming that "[he] did nothing wrong, he wanted to help people regardless of their political affiliation and paid the highest price for it" and that "he is not a briber".[16]

Reactions

The Polish prosecutor’s office, headed by Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, responded in a statement blaming leader of the opposition and Civic Platform Donald Tusk accusing him of "falsehoods" and "unrelated findings".[17]

President Andrzej Duda said he was awaiting the results of an investigation before commenting[18] but that "at least some of the information in the media is untrue".[19]

Zbigniew Rau responded that he thought the claims were "vastly exaggerated".[20]

State media (such as Telewizja Polska, Polskie Radio, Orlen-owned print media), which has become a mouthpiece for government propaganda, has focused on other issues, such as the spike in migrant arrivals on the Italian island of Lampedusa,[21] or avoided reporting the news altogether.[22]

References

  1. ^ Na czym polega "afera wizowa"? [What is visagate about?] (in Polish), oko.press, retrieved 14 September 2023
  2. ^ a b "Wawrzyk, Bollywood i specsłużby USA. Ujawniamy kulisy afery wizowej", onet.pl (in Polish), Onet Wiadomości, 14 September 2023, retrieved 14 September 2023
  3. ^ "Filmowcy Wawrzyka" i wielka afera wizowa w MSZ. "Ośmiornica PiS" ["Wawrzyk's filmmakers" and the great visagate in the MFA. "The long arms of PiS"] (in Polish), Rzeczypospolita, retrieved 14 September 2023
  4. ^ Afera w MSZ, posłowie z kolejną kontrolą. "Rzeczpospolita": pośrednik ze znajomościami w resorcie usłyszał zarzuty [Scandal at the MFA, MP's with another check. Rzeczpospolita: intermediary with connections in the resort has been charged] (in Polish), TVN24, 11 September 2023, retrieved 14 September 2023
  5. ^ Piotr Skolimowski (16 September 2023), Cash-For-Visa Scandal Hits Polish Ruling Party Before Election, Bloomberg
  6. ^ a b c d e f AP (15 September 2023), 'Cash-for visas' scandal hits Poland's anti-migration government ahead of October election, South China Morning Post
  7. ^ a b c (in Polish), 15 September 2023 https://www.polsatnews.pl/wiadomosc/2023-09-08/afera-wizowa-jest-komunikat-prokuratury-krajowej/ {{citation}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ^ "Seven charged in Polish visa irregularity probe, prosecutor says". Reuters. 14 September 2023.
  9. ^ Monika Ścisłowska (Associated Press (14 September 2023), A cash-for visas scandal hits Poland's strongly anti-migration government, weeks before elections, ABC News
  10. dw.com, Deutsche Welle
    , 15 September 2023
  11. ^ Poland’s ruling party under pressure over broadening visa scandal, Financial Times
  12. ^ "Poland: Government under pressure over escalating cash for visas scandal". BBC News. 15 September 2023.
  13. ^ Rob Schmitz (18 September 2023), What we know about the visa scandal in Poland, NPR
  14. Luxembourg Times
  15. ^ "Polish visa row heats up as opposition claims government knew of irregularities". Reuters. 13 September 2023.
  16. eska.pl (in Polish). Radio Eska
    . 15 September 2023.
  17. ^ Wojciech Kość (11 September 2023), "Poland's government under fire after reports of cash-for-visas scheme", politico.eu, Politico
  18. ^ Cash-for visas scandal hits Poland’s anti-migration government, The Jamaica Gleamer, 15 September 2023
  19. ^ Monika Ścisłowska (14 September 2023), A cash-for visas scandal hits Poland's strongly anti-migration government, weeks before elections, Associated Press
  20. rte.ie, RTÉ
  21. ^ Polish opposition calls for answers as cash for visas scandal grows, Reuters, 15 September 2023
  22. ^ "Cała Polska mówi o aferze wizowej. Tymczasem "Wiadomości" TVP..." [The whole of Poland is talking about visagate. Meanwhile TVP's "The News"...], onet.pl, Onet, 14 September 2023
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Polish_cash-for-visa_scandal&oldid=1176072931"