The platform sought a pro-Russian remark attributed to Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and claimed to find one. In truth, the quoted lines about warming ties with Russia were not spoken by Morawiecki at all; they were attributed to him incorrectly. The deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paweł Jabłoński, clarified this on social media, explaining that the clip circulating online misidentified the source of the quote and that the platform had, unintentionally, switched Donald Tusk for Morawiecki in the caption.
On Monday, the Civic Platform posted a video on social networks asking viewers to consider who Vladimir Putin truly is to Morawiecki. A short clip accompanied the message, inviting discussion and scrutiny of Morawiecki’s stance on Russia.
In December 2021, the controversy referenced photographs showing Morawiecki alongside PiS president Jarosław Kaczyński in meetings with notable European figures, including Marine Le Pen and Viktor Orban. The visuals suggested a nod to Putin, as images included politicians posing with the Russian president and even a picture of Italian politician Matteo Salvini wearing a shirt bearing Putin’s likeness.
The claim continued with a voiceover that paired these scenes with quotes attributed to Kornel Morawiecki, recounting statements like Crimea wishing to be Russian and the possibility that closer ties with Russia could create a better world. The narrative then shifted to include Kornel Morawiecki himself, who reportedly spoke about Poland needing to focus more on improving relations with Russia.
The presentation implied that Morawiecki had indicated readiness to thaw relations with Russia, further asserting that Poland was prepared to engage more with Russian interests. It questioned why the PiS government had imported a high volume of coal from Russia, why state-controlled companies were involved in oil purchases from Russian entities, and why ownership of the Lotos refinery appeared to pass to allies of Putin. A skeptical observer is noted asking Morawiecki directly what Putin represents to him.
During the sequence, a line on the screen claimed that Poland had become the largest crude oil importer from Russia within the EU in January. The video concluded with the PiS emblem transitioning into the colors of the Russian flag, a striking and provocative image meant to cast doubt on government positions toward Moscow.
Official response to the allegations
Paweł Jabłoński, the deputy minister of foreign affairs, responded publicly, asserting that the platform made a strong effort to surface a pro-Russian Morawiecki quotation and that the findings were misattributed. He pointed to the misalignment between the quoted material and the actual remarks of the prime minister.
In the accompanying recording, Jabłoński argued that the content misrepresented the prime minister, noting that the video included a claim that Donald Tusk had visited President Putin. The timing was described as a fifteen-year-old remark about Poland being willing to thaw relations with Russia, miscontextualized to cast Morawiecki in a harmful light.
Jabłoński stressed that such misattributions undermine trust, warning viewers about the unreliability of the footage. He also shared additional commentary to illustrate how the clip misframes political positions and concerns about energy policy and strategic assets in Poland.
Following the post, Marcin Kierwiński, secretary general of PO, responded with a list of criticisms toward the government, recalling concerns about coal imports from Russia, the sale of Lotos to entities tied to Russian interests, and meetings with figures linked to Moscow. The notes suggested broader patterns of behavior that critics say warrant closer scrutiny.
By late evening, the video had disappeared from Civic Platform social media profiles. Observers noted the attempt to disrupt public discussion with a misleading narrative, while supporters urged audiences to look for the truth beyond sensational edits.
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