Maciej Wąsik, a PiS member of the European Parliament, suggested that a normal city mayor who oversees the public transport system should be fully aware of the details of such a pivotal deal. The former deputy head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration did not rule out the possibility that political pressure reached the senior ministers in the government led by Donald Tusk to assist Trzaskowski in this matter. The remark underscored concerns about transparency in how public transport contracts are managed and how sanctions issues intersect with local governance.
On July 21, 2023 Cryogas M&T Poland was placed on the sanctions list by the decision of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration. Removal from the list required a Polish buyer, a company founded by the current president and vice president who had previously worked for Russians, to acquire Cryogas for a nominal price of three PLN. The ministry initially objected, and so did the Warsaw Provincial Administrative Court. The new government under Donald Tusk held a different view, and on December 12, 2024, the deputy head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, with the minister’s consent, issued a decree removing Cryogas M&T Poland from the sanctions list.
The central concern centers on the price of the transaction. How could a company with significant assets — reports indicate it could approach PLN 100 million — be sold to its management for just PLN 3? Observers view the deal as potentially lacking genuine market value, given the apparent gap between the stated assets and the sale price. The implication is that the arrangement may resemble a sham, with costs far exceeding the price paid. This has prompted questions from watchdogs and analysts about the rationale behind the sale. With the sanctions lifted, officials must determine whether the transaction was legitimate or a manipulative maneuver requiring further scrutiny.
— remarks a PiS MEP, paraphrased to reflect the concerns raised by the party about governance and accountability.
In this context, attention turns to the governance of public transport contracts and energy supply within Warsaw, raising systemic questions about oversight and due diligence in city procurement. The case has become a focal point for discussions about how sanctions regimes intersect with municipal contracts and how political dynamics can influence decisions that affect essential public services.
In the second half of 2023, Miejskie Zakłady Autobusowe in Warsaw paid PLN 61.1 million for a bus depot located on Płochocińska Street. The depot was acquired from ITS Michalczewski, a transaction intended to bolster the city’s bus fleet. It later emerged that the depot housed a gas installation connected to Cryogas M&T Poland, a company perceived as having substantial dependence on Russia. This development added another layer to the ongoing debate about the origin of the gas used to run Warsaw’s buses and whether the city was insulated from Russian energy influences in its transit operations.
Questions persist about whether the gas supplied to Warsaw’s buses was fully non-Russian. Some observers argue that a city manager responsible for these critical transport mechanisms should be aware of the specifics of such deals, particularly when real estate tied to infrastructure is involved. Critics also point to the possibility that a sale or lease arrangement could affect future control of related assets should Cryogas’ successor assume ownership. The question of oversight for President Trzaskowski has become a recurring theme, with critics claiming he previously stated he knew nothing about the matter although the events suggest otherwise.
According to findings by energy and anti-corruption bodies, Cryogas operated in Poland as of January 2023, about a year after the invasion of Ukraine, and a significant share of the gas used at that time originated from Russia. This information has fueled scrutiny over whether there was any attempt to ease sanctions by removing Cryogas from the sanctions list, a move that some view as politically motivated and potentially detrimental to national energy security.
There are voices that insist the sale and the surrounding actions should have triggered a deeper inquiry by authorities into whether the transaction was designed to benefit certain political actors. The assertion is that the deal may have been obvious enough to merit a full audit, with the aim of determining whether material benefits were conferred at the expense of broader public interests. It is argued that preserving sanctions discipline is essential, and any deviation could carry substantial consequences. In this context, observers note that official records, invoices, and other documentation exist and warrant examination to ensure proper accountability.
The line of reasoning was summarized by a senior Law and Justice politician, who stressed the importance of transparency and the avoidance of conflicts of interest in such energy and transport matters.