At the Katyn Museum in Warsaw President Andrzej Duda met with representatives of organizations of the Katyn Families. In his speech, he emphasized that the truth about the Katyn massacre had been fought for many decades.

“So, firstly, we need the truth, and secondly, it is a question of clearly defined and enforced responsibility. Of course, there is a question of who should bear this responsibility, after many years, in a situation when the direct and indirect perpetrators are no longer alive”, said Andrzej Duda.

The president noted that the murderers were not private persons, but functionaries of the Soviet state: politicians, members of the Soviet administration, and soldiers.

“So, in short, it was an organized apparatus of Soviet power, which the present Russian authorities absolutely recognize as its continuation. In this regard, there is no doubt that present Russia can also be by all means called the heir of the Soviet Union. Even more, because, as we can see today, the Russian army is parading on Red Square in Moscow under the banner of the Soviet Union”, emphasized the president.

“I have no doubts that, in fact, the Russian state today is the one that bears on itself inherited responsibility for the Katyn massacre. And if we can pursue any claims against anyone today, we can indeed pursue these claims against the Russian state. And I believe that this path must be followed”, said Andrzej Duda.

The Katyn massacre took place after the Soviet aggression against Poland on September 17, 1939, when about 15,000 officers were taken prisoners in the USSR. In accordance with the decree of the USSR authorities, signed by Stalin, the NKVD shot about 22,000 Polish citizens, including 15 thousand officers, policemen, border guards and prison service.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński